Chromosome-level genome assembly of an oligophagous leaf beetle Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

The leaf beetle Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an effective biological control agent of the common ragweed. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level genome of the O. communa by combining Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The genome size of the final genome assembly is 733.1 Mb, encompassing 17 chromosomes, with an improved contig N50 of 7.05 Mb compared to the original version. Genome annotation reveals 25,873 protein-coding genes, with functional annotations available for 22,084 genes (85.35%). Non-coding sequence annotation identified 204 rRNAs, 626 tRNAs, and 1791 small RNAs. Repetitive elements occupy 414.41 Mb, constituting 57.76% of the genome. This high-quality genome is fundamental for advancing biological control strategies employing O. communa.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis.

The western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a global invasive species that causes increasing damage by direct feeding on crops and transmission of plant viruses. Here, we assemble a previously published scaffold-level genome into a chromosomal level using Hi-C sequencing technology. The assembled genome has a size of 302.58 Mb, with a contig N50 of 1533 bp, scaffold N50 of 19.071 Mb, and BUSCO completeness of 97.8%. All contigs are anchored on 15 chromosomes. A total of 16,312 protein-coding genes are annotated in the genome with a BUSCO completeness of 95.2%. The genome contains 492 non-coding RNA, and 0.41% of interspersed repeats. In conclusion, this high-quality genome provides a convenient and high-quality resource for understanding the ecology, genetics, and evolution of thrips.

Nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of the plum fruit moth Grapholita funebrana.

The plum fruit moth Grapholita funebrana (Tortricidae, Lepidoptera) is an important pest of many wild and cultivated stone fruits and other plants in the family Rosaceae. Here, we assembled its nuclear and mitochondrial genomes using Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The nuclear genome size is 570.9 Mb, with a repeat rate of 51.28%, and a BUCSO completeness of 97.7%. The karyotype for males is 2n = 56. We identified 17,979 protein-coding genes, 5,643 tRNAs, and 94 rRNAs. We also determined the mitochondrial genome of this species and annotated 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNA. These genomes provide resources to understand the genetics, ecology, and genome evolution of the tortricid moths.

Nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of Polylopha cassiicola: the first assembly in Chlidanotinae (Tortricidae).

Tortricidae is one of the largest families in Lepidoptera, including subfamilies of Tortricinae, Olethreutinae, and Chlidanotinae. Here, we assembled the gap-free genome for the subfamily Chlidanotinae using Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing from Polylopha cassiicola, a pest of camphor trees in southern China. The nuclear genome is 302.03 Mb in size, with 36.82% of repeats and 98.4% of BUCSO completeness. The karyotype is 2n = 44 for males. We identified 15412 protein-coding genes, 1052 tRNAs, and 67 rRNAs. We also determined the mitochondrial genome of this species and annotated 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and one rRNA. These high-quality genomes provide valuable information for studying phylogeny, karyotypic evolution, and adaptive evolution of tortricid moths.

A chromosome-level genome for the flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa.

The flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a common insect found in flowers of many plants. Sometimes, F. intonsa causes damage to crops through direct feeding and transmission of plant viruses. Here, we assembled a chromosomal level genome of F. intonsa using the Illumina, Oxford Nanopore (ONT), and Hi-C technologies. The assembled genome had a size of 209.09 Mb, with a contig N50 of 997 bp, scaffold N50 of 13.415 Mb, and BUSCO completeness of 92.5%. The assembled contigs were anchored on 15 chromosomes. A set of 14,109 protein-coding genes were annotated in the genome with a BUSCO completeness of 95.0%. The genome contained 491 non-coding RNA and 0.57% of interspersed repeats. This high-quality genome provides a valuable resource for understanding the ecology, genetics, and evolution of F. intonsa, as well as for controlling thrips pests.

Value of magnetic resonance imaging radiomics features in predicting histologic grade of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer has the second highest mortality rate of all cancers and occurs mainly in women. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics features and histological grade of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast and to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy. METHODS: The two conventional MRI quantitative indicators, i.e. the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the initial enhancement rate, were collected from 112 patients with breast cancer. The breast cancer lesions were manually segmented in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and ADC images, the differences in radiomics features between Grades I, II and III IDCs were compared and the diagnostic efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: The ADC values (0.77 ± 0.22 vs 0.91 ± 0.22 vs 0.92 ± 0.20, F= 4.204, p< 0.01), as well as the B_sum_variance (188.51 ± 67.803 vs 265.37 ± 77.86 vs 263.74 ± 82.58, F= 6.040, p< 0.01), L_energy (0.03 ± 0.02 vs 0.13 ± 0.11 vs 0.12 ± 0.14, F= 7.118, p< 0.01) and L_sum_average (0.78 ± 0.32 vs 16.34 ± 4.23 vs 015.45 ± 3.74, F= 21.860, p< 0.001) values of patients with Grade III IDC were significantly lower than those of patients with Grades I and II IDC. The B_uniform (0.15 ± 0.12 vs 0.11 ± 0.04 vs 0.12 ± 0.03, F= 3.797, p< 0.01) and L_SRE (0.85 ± 0.07 vs 0.78 ± 0.03 vs 0.79 ± 0.32, F= 3.024, p< 0.01) values of patients with Grade III IDC were significantly higher than those of patients with Grades I and II IDC. All differences were statistically significant (p< 0.05). The ADC radiomics signature model had a higher area-under-the-curve value in identifying different grades of IDC than the ADC value model and the DCE radiomics signature model (0.869 vs 0.711 vs 0.682). The accuracy (0.812 vs 0.647 vs 0.710), specificity (0.731 vs 0.435 vs 0.342), positive predictive value (0.815 vs 0.663 vs 0.669) and negative predictive value (0.753 vs 0.570 vs 0.718) of the ADC radiomics signature model were all significantly better than the ADC value model and the DCE radiomics signature model. CONCLUSION: ADC values and breast MRI radiomics signatures are significant in identifying the histological grades of IDC, with the ADC radiomics signatures having greater value.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Japanese sawyer beetle Monochamus alternatus.

The Japanese sawyer beetle Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a pest in pine forests and acts as a vector for the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which causes the pine wilt disease. We assembled a high-quality genome of M. alternatus at the chromosomal level using Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The assembled genome is 767.12 Mb, with a scaffold N50 of 82.0 Mb. All contigs were assembled into ten pseudo-chromosomes. The genome contains 63.95% repeat sequences. We identify 16, 284 protein-coding genes in the genome, of which 11,244 were functionally annotated. The high-quality genome of M. alternatus provides an invaluable resource for the biological, ecological, and genetic study of this beetle and opens new avenues for understanding the transmission of pine wood nematode by insect vectors.

Plasticity of cold and heat stress tolerance induced by hardening and acclimation in the melon thrips.

Extreme temperatures threaten species under climate change and can limit range expansions. Many species cope with changing environments through plastic changes. This study tested phenotypic changes in heat and cold tolerance under hardening and acclimation in the melon thrips, Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), an agricultural pest of many vegetables. We first measured the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) of the species by the knockdown time under static temperatures and found support for an injury accumulation model of heat stress. The inferred knockdown time at 39 °C was 82.22 min. Rapid heat hardening for 1 h at 35 °C slightly increased CTmax by 1.04 min but decreased it following exposure to 31 °C by 3.46 min and 39 °C by 6.78 min. Heat acclimation for 2 and 4 days significantly increased CTmax at 35 °C by 1.83, and 6.83 min, respectively. Rapid cold hardening at 0 °C and 4 °C for 2 h, and cold acclimation at 10 °C for 3 days also significantly increased cold tolerance by 6.09, 5.82, and 2.00 min, respectively, while cold hardening at 8 °C for 2 h and acclimation at 4 °C and 10 °C for 5 days did not change cold stress tolerance. Mortality at 4 °C for 3 and 5 days reached 24.07 % and 43.22 % respectively. Our study showed plasticity for heat and cold stress tolerance in T. palmi, but the thermal and temporal space for heat stress induction is narrower than for cold stress induction.

Robust Magnetoelectric Coupling in FeTiO3/Ga2O3 Non-van der Waals Heterostructures.

Magnetoelectric coupling represents a significant breakthrough for next-generation electronics, offering the ability to achieve nonvolatile magnetic control via electrical means. In this comprehensive investigation, leveraging first-principles calculations, we unveil a robust magnetoelectric coupling within multiferroic heterostructures (HSs) by ingeniously integrating a non-van der Waals (non-vdW) magnetic FeTiO3 monolayer with the ferroelectric (FE) Ga2O3. Diverging from conventional van der Waals (vdW) multiferroic HSs, the magnetic states of the FeTiO3 monolayer can be efficiently toggled between ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) configurations by reversing the polarization of the Ga2O3 monolayer. This intriguing phenomenon arises from polarization-dependent substantial interlayer electron transfers and the interplay between superexchange and direct-exchange magnetic couplings of the iron atoms. The carrier-mediated interfacial interactions induce crucial shifts in Fermi level positions, decisively imparting distinct electronic characteristics near the Fermi level of composite systems. These novel findings offer exciting prospects for the future of magnetoelectric technology.

The Uptake and Distribution Evidence of Nano- and Microplastics in vivo after a Single High Dose of Oral Exposure.

Objective: Tissue uptake and distribution of nano-/microplastics was studied at a single high dose by gavage in vivo. Methods: Fluorescent microspheres (100 nm, 3 µm, and 10 µm) were given once at a dose of 200 mg/(kg∙body weight). The fluorescence intensity (FI) in observed organs was measured using the IVIS Spectrum at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after administration. Histopathology was performed to corroborate these findings. Results: In the 100 nm group, the FI of the stomach and small intestine were highest at 0.5 h, and the FI of the large intestine, excrement, lung, kidney, liver, and skeletal muscles were highest at 4 h compared with the control group ( P < 0.05). In the 3 µm group, the FI only increased in the lung at 2 h ( P < 0.05). In the 10 µm group, the FI increased in the large intestine and excrement at 2 h, and in the kidney at 4 h ( P < 0.05). The presence of nano-/microplastics in tissues was further verified by histopathology. The peak time of nanoplastic absorption in blood was confirmed. Conclusion: Nanoplastics translocated rapidly to observed organs/tissues through blood circulation; however, only small amounts of MPs could penetrate the organs.

Rapid and Repeated Climate Adaptation Involving Chromosome Inversions following Invasion of an Insect.

Following invasion, insects can become adapted to conditions experienced in their invasive range, but there are few studies on the speed of adaptation and its genomic basis. Here, we examine a small insect pest, Thrips palmi, following its contemporary range expansion across a sharp climate gradient from the subtropics to temperate areas. We first found a geographically associated population genetic structure and inferred a stepping-stone dispersal pattern in this pest from the open fields of southern China to greenhouse environments of northern regions, with limited gene flow after colonization. In common garden experiments, both the field and greenhouse groups exhibited clinal patterns in thermal tolerance as measured by critical thermal maximum (CTmax) closely linked with latitude and temperature variables. A selection experiment reinforced the evolutionary potential of CTmax with an estimated h2 of 6.8% for the trait. We identified 3 inversions in the genome that were closely associated with CTmax, accounting for 49.9%, 19.6%, and 8.6% of the variance in CTmax among populations. Other genomic variations in CTmax outside the inversion region were specific to certain populations but functionally conserved. These findings highlight rapid adaptation to CTmax in both open field and greenhouse populations and reiterate the importance of inversions behaving as large-effect alleles in climate adaptation.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of an agricultural pest Zeugodacus tau (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The fruit fly Zeugodacus tau (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major pest of melons and other cucurbits in Southeast Asia. In this study, we used Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies to assemble a reference genome of Z. tau at the chromosomal level. The assembled genome was 421.79 Mb and consisted of six chromosomes (one X-chromosome + five autosomes). The contig N50 was 4.23 Mb. We identified 20,922 protein-coding genes, of which 17,251 (82.45%) were functionally annotated. Additionally, we found 247 rRNAs, 435 tRNAs, 67 small nuclear RNAs, and 829 small RNAs in the genome. Repetitive elements accounted for 55.30 Mb (13.15%) of the genome. This high-quality genome assembly is valuable for evolutionary and genetic studies of Z. tau and its relative species.

Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells Origin Exosomes are Effective Against Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Rat Model.

Introduction: The incidence and mortality rates of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (SAKI) remain high, posing a substantial healthcare burden. Studies have implicated a connection between the development of SAKI and inflammation response, apoptosis, and autophagy. Moreover, evidence suggests that manipulating autophagy could potentially influence the prognosis of this condition. Notably, exosomes derived from bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs-Exo) have exhibited promise in mitigating cellular damage by modulating pathways associated with inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Thus, this study aims to investigate the influence of BMSCs-Exo on SAKI and the potential mechanisms that drive this impact. Methods: The SAKI model was induced in HK-2 cells using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), while rats underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to simulate the condition. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 kit, and kidney damage was evaluated through HE staining, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) measurements. Inflammatory-related RNAs and proteins were quantified via qPCR and ELISA, respectively. Apoptosis was determined through apoptosis-related protein levels, flow cytometry, and TUNEL staining. Western blot analysis was utilized to measure associated protein expressions. Results: In vivo, BMSCs-Exo ameliorated kidney injury in CLP-induced SAKI rats, reducing inflammatory cytokine production and apoptosis levels. Fluorescence microscope observed the absorption of BMSCs-Exo by renal cells following injection via tail vein. In the SAKI rat kidney tissue, there was an upregulation of LC3-II/LC3-I, p62, and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) expressions, indicating blocked autophagic flux, while phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) expression was downregulated. However, BMSCs-Exo enhanced LC3-II/LC3-I and p-AMPK expression, concurrently reducing p62 and p-mTOR levels. In vitro, BMSCs-Exo enhanced cell viability in LPS-treated HK-2 cells, and exerted anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis effects which were consistent with the results in vivo. Similarly, rapamycin (Rapa) exhibited a protective effect comparable to BMSCs-Exo, albeit partially abrogated by 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Conclusion: BMSCs-Exo mitigate inflammation and apoptosis through autophagy in SAKI, offering a promising avenue for SAKI treatment.

Intrinsic ferromagnetism in two-dimensional 1T-MX2 monolayers with tunable magnetocrystalline anisotropy.

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials with tunable magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) provide unique opportunities for developing the next-generation data-storage and information devices. Herein we systematically investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of the 1T-MX2 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co; X = As, Sb) monolayers, and identify the stable 2D ferromagnets as well as their MCA energies. Notably, the results demonstrate that the biaxial strain and carrier doping effects have a significant influence on their magnetic behaviors. In addition to the robust FM states, three FM monolayers yield tunable MCA depending on the applied strain type and carrier doping values. The dominant contributions to these complicated modifications in MCA are mainly attributed to the strain or carrier doping induced alterations of specific M-derived 3d states, which in turn lead to the changes of their spin-orbit coupling (SOC) energies. These findings show effective approaches to control 2D magnetism and suggest that these 2D FM materials may be promising candidates to design highly efficient memory devices.

Health burden of unbalanced fatty acids intake from 1990 to 2019: A global analysis.

BACKGROUND: Unbalanced fatty acids intake is associated with a range of health outcomes; however, the impact on human health remains unclear globally. We aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of the health effect of unbalanced fatty acids intake on a global scale. METHODS: We analyzed the trends of summary exposure value (SEV) and the attributable burden of unbalanced fatty acids intake, including diet low in polyunsaturated fatty acids (low PUFAs), diet low in seafood omega-3 fatty acids (low seafood-(ω-3)-PUFAs), and diet high in trans fatty acids (high TFAs) from 1990 to 2019 using data from Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. FINDINGS: The global fatty acids intake was far from the optimal level. High-income North America had the highest SEV of diet of high TFAs, while less-developed regions located in Saharan Africa had the highest SEVs of low PUFAs and low seafood-(ω-3)-PUFAs. The attributable burden was unequally distributed to less-developed regions. Males had lower SEVs but higher attributable burden than females and this gender gap was particularly pronounced before the age of 59. The young population had a higher SEV of diet of low PUFAs, comparable SEV of low seafood-(ω-3)-PUFAs but lower SEV of high TFAs than the elderly population. CONCLUSIONS: This study underpinned the high prevalence of unbalanced fatty acids intake worldwide and provided evidence-based guidance for identifying at-risk populations and developing effective strategies to improve fatty acids intake in the future. FUNDING: The study was funded by Shanxi Province "136" Revitalization Medical Project Construction Funds and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

Effects of fungicides on fitness and Buchnera endosymbiont density in Aphis gossypii.

BACKGROUND: Several agricultural fungicides are known to affect insect pests directly and these effects may be transgenerational and mediated through impacts on endosymbionts, providing opportunities for pest control. The cotton aphid Aphis gossypii is a polyphagous pest that can cause large crop yield losses. Here, we tested the effects of three fungicides, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin and chlorothalonil, on the fitness and Buchnera endosymbiont of A. gossypii. RESULTS: The formulations of trifloxystrobin and pyraclostrobin, and the active ingredient of pyraclostrobin produced dose-dependent mortality in A. gossypii, whereas there was no dose-dependent mortality for chlorothalonil. The formulations of trifloxystrobin and pyraclostrobin significantly reduced the lifespan and fecundity of A. gossypii, and increased the density of Buchnera in the parental generation but not the (unexposed) F1 . When the active ingredient of pyraclostrobin was tested, the lifespan of the F0 generation was also reduced, but the density of Buchnera was not, indicating that non-insecticidal chemicals in the fungicide formulation may affect the density of the endosymbiont of A. gossypii. There was no transgenerational effect of the active ingredient of pyraclostrobin on the lifespan and Buchnera of (unexposed) F1 . CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that formulations of two strobilurin fungicides have immediate impacts on the fitness of A. gossypii, and chemicals in the formulation impact the density of the primary Buchnera endosymbiont. Our study highlights the potential effects of non-insecticidal chemicals of fungicides on aphid pests and their primary endosymbionts but direct connections between fitness and Buchnera densities remain unclear. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Testing for adaptive changes linked to range expansion following a single introduction of the fall webworm.

Adaptive evolution following colonization can affect the impact of invasive species. The fall webworm (FWW) invaded China 40 years ago through a single introduction event involving a severe bottleneck and subsequently diverged into two genetic groups. The well-recorded invasion history of FWW, coupled with a clear pattern of genetic divergence, provides an opportunity to investigate whether there is any sign of adaptive evolution following the invasion. Based on genome-wide SNPs, we identified genetically separated western and eastern groups of FWW and correlated spatial variation in SNPs with geographical and climatic factors. Geographical factors explained a similar proportion of the genetic variation across all populations compared with climatic factors. However, when the two population groups were analysed separately, environmental factors explained more variation than geographical factors. SNP outliers in populations of the western group had relatively stronger response to precipitation than temperature-related variables. Functional annotation of SNP outliers identified genes associated with insect cuticle protein potentially related to desiccation adaptation in the western group and genes associated with lipase biosynthesis potentially related to temperature adaptation in the eastern group. Our study suggests that invasive species may maintain the evolutionary potential to adapt to heterogeneous environments despite a single invasion event. The molecular data suggest that quantitative trait comparisons across environments would be worthwhile.

Interspecific and intraspecific variation in susceptibility of two co-occurring pest thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips palmi, to nine insecticides.

BACKGROUND: Field control of pest thrips mainly relies on insecticides, but the toxicity of insecticides can vary among thrips species and populations. In this study, we examined the susceptibility of multiple field populations of two thrips pests, Frankliniella occidentalis, and Thrips palmi, that often co-occur on vegetables, to nine insecticides belonging to seven subgroups. RESULTS: The highest level of variation in susceptibility among F. occidentalis populations was for spinetoram (73.92 fold difference between most resistant and most susceptible population), followed by three neonicotinoids (8.06-15.99 fold), while among T. palmi populations, it was also for spinetoram (257.19 fold), followed by emamectin benzoate, sulfoxaflor, and acetamiprid (23.64-45.50 fold). These findings suggest evolved resistance to these insecticides in some populations of the two thrips. One population of F. occidentalis had a particularly high level of resistance overall, being the most resistant for five of the nine insecticides tested. Likewise, a population of T. palmi had high resistance to all nine insecticides, again suggesting the evolution of resistance to multiple chemicals. For F. occidentalis, the LC95 values of most populations were higher than the field-recommended dosage for all insecticides except chlorfenapyr and emamectin benzoate. For several T. palmi populations, the LC95 values also tended to be higher than recommended dosages, except in the case of emamectin benzoate and spinetoram. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found interspecific and intraspecific variations in the susceptibility of two thrips to nine insecticides and multiple resistance in some populations, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and resistance management. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Trends and risk factors of global incidence, mortality, and disability of genitourinary cancers from 1990 to 2019: Systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Background: The incidence of kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer ranked ninth, sixth, and third in male cancers respectively, meanwhile, the incidence of testicular cancer also increased gradually in the past 30 years. Objective: To study and present estimates of the incidence, mortality, and disability of kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicular cancer by location and age from 1990 to 2019 and reveal the mortality risk factors of them. Materials: The Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 was used to obtain data for this research. The prediction of cancer mortality and incidence was based on mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). The MIR data was processed by logistic regression and adjusted by Gaussian process regression. The association between the socio-demographic index and the incidence or disease burden was determined by Spearman's rank order correlation. Results: Globally in 2019, there were 371,700 kidney cancer cases with an age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 4.6 per 100,000, 524,300 bladder cancer cases, with an ASIR of 6.5 per 100,000, 1,410,500 prostate cancer cases with an ASIR of 4.6 per 100,000 and 109,300 testicular cancer incident cases with an ASIR of 1.4 per 100,000, the ASIR of these four cancers increased by 29.1, 4, 22, and 45.5% respectively. The incidence rate of the four cancers and the burden of kidney cancer were positively correlated with the socio-demographic index (SDI), regions with a higher SDI faced more of a burden attributable to these four cancers. High body-mass index has surpassed smoking to be the leading risk factor in the past thirty years for kidney cancer mortality. Smoking remained the leading risk factor for cancer-related mortality for bladder cancer and prostate cancer and the only risk factor for prostate cancer. However, the contribution of high fasting plasma glucose to bladder cancer mortality has been increasing. Conclusion: The incidence of bladder, kidney, prostate, and testicular cancer is ever-increasing. High-income regions face a greater burden attributable to the four cancers. In addition to smoking, metabolic risk factors may need more attention.

Quantitative simulation of photothermal effect in laser therapy of hypertrophic scar.

BACKGROUND: Laser technology has been widely used in the treatment of hypertrophic scar (HPS). Due to the lack of effective quantitative relationship between laser doses and thermal effect of lesion tissue, the selection of laser doses in clinical laser treatment of HPS is blind, which cannot guarantee the best treatment effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The photothermal model of HPS was established by using finite element method. The effects of laser dose parameters such as laser energy density, pulse width, and spot diameter on the thermal effects of laser treatment were analyzed. According to tissue temperature threshold and thermal damage degree of the simulation results, the optimal laser doses of HPS were selected for the laser treatment experiments of rabbit ear HPSs to verify the rationality of the quantitative photothermal model. RESULTS: The temperature rise and thermal damage degree of HPS following laser treatment were directly correlated to the laser doses, which grew with the increase of energy density and laser pulse width. For the different spot diameters, the temperature rise decreased with the increase of spot diameter, whereas the thermal damage degree worsened with the increase of spot diameter. Both simulation and experimental results show that the optimal treatment parameters of HPS were as follows: The laser energy density was 7.5 J/cm3 , the pulse width was 4 ms, and the spot diameter was 7 mm. CONCLUSION: The laser dose parameters optimized by the photothermal model have achieved good therapeutic effects in the rabbit ear HPS, indicating that the model can be used for quantitative evaluation of laser doses before clinical treatment.