Isolation, molecular identification, and genomic analysis of Mangrovibacter phragmitis strain ASIOC01 from activated sludge harboring the bioremediation prowess of glycerol and organic pollutants in high-salinity.

The physiological and genotypic characteristics of Mangrovibacter (MGB) remain largely unexplored, including their distribution and abundance within ecosystems. M. phragmitis (MPH) ASIOC01 was successfully isolated from activated sludge (AS), which was pre-enriched by adding 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol as carbon sources. The new isolate, MPH ASIOC01, exhibited resilience in a medium containing sodium chloride concentration up to 11% (with optimal growth observed at 3%) and effectively utilizing glycerol as their sole carbon source. However, species delimitation of MGBs remains challenging due to high 16S rRNA sequence similarity (greater than 99% ANI) among different MGBs. In contrast, among the housekeeping gene discrepancies, the tryptophan synthase beta chain gene can serve as a robust marker for fast species delimitation among MGBs. Furthermore, the complete genome of MPH ASIOC01 was fully sequenced and circlized as a single contig using the PacBio HiFi sequencing method. Comparative genomics revealed genes potentially associated with various phenotypic features of MGBs, such as nitrogen-fixing, phosphate-solubilizing, cellulose-digesting, Cr-reducing, and salt tolerance. Computational analysis suggested that MPH ASIOC01 may have undergone horizontal gene transfer events, possibly contributing unique traits such as antibiotic resistance. Finally, our findings also disclosed that the introduction of MPH ASIOC01 into AS can assist in the remediation of wastewater chemical oxygen demand, which was evaluated using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. To the best of our knowledge, this study offers the most comprehensive understanding of the phenotypic and genotypic features of MGBs to date.

Non-intubated bronchoscopic tracheobronchial surgeries with electroencephalogram-monitored intravenous anesthesia: feasibility and outcomes.

Background: Anesthesia remains challenging for bronchoscopic tracheobronchial surgeries (BTS) involving surgical manipulations for central airway obstruction within shared airways. To provide complete airway use through intervention with spontaneous breathing without endotracheal tubes, monitored non-intubated anesthesia has been successfully applied with electroencephalogram-derived monitored total intravenous anesthesia. This study evaluated the feasibility and the outcomes of BTS with monitored non-intubated anesthesia. The factors associated with desaturation and complications were also analyzed. Methods: Data from patients receiving non-intubated BTS performed between October 2019 and August 2022 were retrospectively collected. Intraoperative results and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Results: Data of 92 patients were collected. Supraglottic airways devices and high-flow nasal oxygen were used in 68 and 24 patients respectively. Surgery was successfully completed in 87 patients (94.6%), whereas three patients required conversion to intubation because of substantial bleeding. In total, 11% of patients experienced desaturation [oxygen saturation (SpO2) <90%] for an average of 9 minutes. Unexpected admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) occurred in 12.2% (5/41) of patients from outpatient department and 7.8% (4/51) of hospitalization settings because of high-grade surgical bleeding. With comparable desaturation incidence, tracheal surgery had significantly longer desaturation times (14.5±6.9 min) than bronchial surgeries (5.8±2.6 min) did. Conclusions: Monitored non-intubated anesthesia with spontaneous breathing is feasible for BTS, with high success rate, few complications, and rapid recovery. High-grade bleeding remains the most unpredictable risk for intraoperative desaturation and postoperative ICU admission, especially in tracheal obstruction cases.

Increased Risk of New-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis Among Osteoarthritis Patients Received Total Knee Arthroplasty: a global federated health network analysis.

Background: Complications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) had been widely discussed. However, whether TKA influence risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in osteoarthritis patients remained uncertain. We intend to evaluate the risk of RA in osteoarthritis patients underwent TKA. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data was retrieved from the US collaborative networks in TriNetX research network. Within the study period between 2005 and 2017, osteoarthritis patients underwent TKA were enrolled as case cohort whereas osteoarthritis patients never underwent TKA were enrolled as control cohort. Covariates were matched via propensity score matching. Risk of RA in TKA patients were valuated under various follow-up time and sensitivity models. Results: Under 1-year, 3-year and 5-year of follow-up, TKA patients were associated with significantly elevated risk of RA, especially under 1-year follow-up (HR=1.74; 95% CI, 1.39-2.18). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the risk of RA following TKA in the female subgroup (HR=1.42; 95% CI, 1.24-1.63), the subgroup aged 18-64 years (HR=1.48; 95% CI, 1.11-1.97), and the subgroup aged greater than 65 years old (HR=1.38; 95% CI, 1.21-1.58) based on 5-year follow-up. Conclusion: Clinicians should be concerned about uncharted association between TKA and RA reported our current study. Additional prospective studies and in-depth mechanistic inquiries were warranted to determine the causation.

Optical design of low-location illumination based on asymmetric double freeform surfaces.

The development of optical optics for low-location road lighting is a challenging problem in providing high luminance and uniformity of illumination and meeting many other specific requirements. This study proposes an optical design method of low-location illumination based on an asymmetric double freeform surface lens. The ray emitted from the light source is refracted and reflected through the different surface types to the corresponding area of the receiving surface. In the design example, the road has dual-side mounted luminaires and a width of 6 m, and a height of 0.8 m. Simulation results indicate that, compared with conventional high-pole streetlights, the luminance uniformity had increased from 0.60 to 0.66, the illuminance uniformity had improved from 0.75 to 0.86, and the glare had been reduced.

Rapid Defect Engineering in FeCoNi/FeAl2O4 Hybrid for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Catalysis: A Pathway to High-Performance Electrocatalysts.

Rational modulation of surface reconstruction in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) utilizing defect engineering to form efficient catalytic activity centers is a topical interest in the field of catalysis. The introduction of point defects has been demonstrated to be an effective strategy to regulate the electronic configuration of electrocatalysts, but the influence of more complex planar defects (e.g., twins and stacking faults), on their intrinsic activity is still not fully understood. This study harnesses ultrasonic cavitation for rapid and controlled introduction of different types of defects in the FeCoNi/FeAl2O4 hybrid coating, optimizing OER catalytic activity. Theoretical calculations and experiments demonstrate that the different defects optimize the coordination environment and facilitate the activation of surface reconstruction into true catalytic activity centers at lower potentials. Moreover, it demonstrates exceptional durability, maintaining stable oxygen production at a high current density of 300 mA cm-2 for over 120 hours. This work not only presents a novel pathway for designing advanced electrocatalysts but also deepens our understanding of defect-engineered catalytic mechanisms, showcasing the potential for rapid and efficient enhancement of electrocatalytic performance.

Increased Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Among Patients With Nontyphoidal Salmonella Infections: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the known association between microorganisms and development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the role of nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) in IBD is not adequately addressed. We aimed at elucidating the relationship between NTS infection and the risk of IBD. METHODS: Based on the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan, this retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with NTS infection (exposure group; n = 4651) and those without NTS infection (comparator group; n = 4651) who were propensity score matched (1:1) by demographic data, medications, comorbidities, and index date. All patients were followed until IBD onset, individual mortality, or December 31, 2018. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity analyses were used for cross-validation. RESULTS: The NTS group demonstrated an increased risk of IBD compared with the non-NTS groups (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.12; 95% CI, 1.62-2.78) with a higher risk of developing ulcerative colitis in the former (aHR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.69-3.04). Nevertheless, the small sample size may contribute to lack of significant difference in Crohn's disease. Consistent findings were noted after excluding IBD diagnosed within 6 months of NTS infection (aHR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.71-3.03), excluding those with enteritis/colitis before index date (aHR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.28-2.68), excluding those using antibiotics for 1 month in the year before IBD onset (aHR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.34-2.45), inverse probability of treatment weighting (aHR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.31-2.04), and inclusion of individuals regardless of age (n = 10 431; aHR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.53-2.19). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NTS were associated with an increased risk of developing IBD, especially ulcerative colitis.

Rapid identification of mushroom toxins by direct electrospray probe mass spectrometry for emergency care.

Mushroom poisoning occurs frequently after the ingestion of toxic wild mushrooms misidentified as edible species. The goal of this study is to develop a mass spectrometric platform to bypass the need for morphological recognition of poisonous mushrooms by experts and rapidly identify the toxins in the mushrooms for emergency care. Trace mushroom toxins were collected by penetrating and removing the mushrooms surface for 3 mm with a direct electrospray probe (DEP). The analytes on the DEP were then dissolved in the solution (70% isopropanol containing 0.1% acetic acid) flowing out of a solvent reservoir on the DEP. Electrospray ionization was induced from the sample solution as a high electric field was generated between the DEP and MS inlet. The obtaining mass spectrometric results were further analyzed with principal component analysis (PCA) to classify mushroom toxins. The mass spectrometric platform for detecting mushroom toxins was assessed for its sensitivity, precision, and efficiency by determining its limit-of-detection (LOD), repeatability, and turnaround time, respectively. As a result, the LODs of the mushroom toxins in pure methanol and spiked in human vomitus by DEP/MS were within 0.001-0.5 ng/µL and 0.01-1 ng/µL, respectively. Linear responses of the mushroom toxins in pure methanol with concentrations between 0.01 and 5 ng/µL (R2 between 0.9922 and 0.998) were obtained. The repeatability of the approach (n = 10) was shown in the low relative standard deviation value (<15%) from ten repeat analysis of mushroom toxins standard solution. The corresponding toxic compounds were identified through matching of the obtained mass spectrometric data with those provided by its companion database library of mushroom toxins. Since no time-consuming pretreatment of the samples is required, identification of mushroom toxins with DEP/MS was complete within 1 min. This will be helpful for the emergency physicians to make correct clinical judgment and prescribe appropriate medical treatment in a timely manner.

Adjuvant sintilimab in resected high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized, controlled, phase 2 trial.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly when accompanied by microvascular invasion (MVI), has a markedly high risk of recurrence after liver resection. Adjuvant immunotherapy is considered a promising avenue. This multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled, phase 2 trial was conducted at six hospitals in China to assess the efficacy and safety of adjuvant sintilimab, a programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor, in these patients. Eligible patients with HCC with MVI were randomized (1:1) into the sintilimab or active surveillance group. The sintilimab group received intravenous injections every 3 weeks for a total of eight cycles. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the intention-to-treat population. Key secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and safety. From September 1, 2020, to April 23, 2022, a total of 198 eligible patients were randomly allocated to receive adjuvant sintilimab (n = 99) or undergo active surveillance (n = 99). After a median follow-up of 23.3 months, the trial met the prespecified endpoints. Sintilimab significantly prolonged RFS compared to active surveillance (median RFS, 27.7 versus 15.5 months; hazard ratio 0.534, 95% confidence interval 0.360-0.792; P = 0.002). Further follow-up is needed to confirm the difference in OS. In the sintilimab group, 12.4% of patients experienced grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events, the most common of which were elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (5.2%) and anemia (4.1%). These findings support the potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors as effective adjuvant therapy for these high-risk patients. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR2000037655 .

Integration of the cancer cell secretome and transcriptome reveals potential noninvasive diagnostic markers for bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a major cancer of the genitourinary system. Although cystoscopy is the standard protocol for diagnosing BLCA clinically, this procedure is invasive and expensive. Several urine-based markers for BLCA have been identified and investigated, but none has shown sufficient sensitivity and specificity. These observations underscore the importance of discovering novel BLCA biomarkers and developing a noninvasive method for detection of BLCA. Exploring the cancer secretome is a good starting point for the development of noninvasive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this study, we established a comprehensive secretome dataset of five representative BLCA cell lines, BFTC905, TSGH8301, 5637, MGH-U1, and MGH-U4, by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Expression of BLCA-specific secreted proteins at the transcription level was evaluated using the Oncomine cancer microarray database. RESULTS: The expressions of four candidates-COMT, EWSR1, FUSIP1, and TNPO2-were further validated in clinical human specimens. Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed that transportin-2 was highly expressed in tumor cells relative to adjacent noncancerous cells in clinical tissue specimens from BLCA patients, and was significantly elevated in BLCA urine compared with that in urine samples from aged-matched hernia patients (controls). CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings suggest TNPO2 as a potential noninvasive tumor-stage or grade discriminator for BLCA management.

A case report on multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency with severe myopathy and osteoporosis.

A 35-year-old male patient presented fluctuating bilateral lower extremity weakness for 3 years. Physical examination showed grade 4 proximal muscle weakness in both lower extremities and grade 5 distal muscle weakness. Laboratory data revealed elevated creatine kinase, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Muscle pathology showed deposition of lipid droplet under the sarcolemma. Bone densitometry indicated severe osteoporosis. Next-generation sequencing revealed a pathogenic mutation in the ETFDH gene. The patient was diagnosed with late-onset multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. After riboflavin treatment, symptoms of the patient were relieved, physical endurance was restored, and bone mineral density was improved.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome as a paraneoplastic neurological disease of pulmonary adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma: A case report.

We present the case of a 69-year-old male who presented with profound weakness in the extremities. Remarkably, he lacked any identifiable precipitating factors preceding the onset of his illness. However, a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) was established based on typical clinical symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and neurological examination. During his hospitalization, an incidental discovery of lung cancer was made. Subsequent pathology confirmed adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in the lungs. This case report serves to underscore the exceptional rarity of the simultaneous occurrence of lung cancer and GBS, renewing interest in investigating GBS as a potential paraneoplastic neurological syndrome. Keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome, paraneoplastic neurological disease, pulmonary adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma.

Effects of resveratrol on macrophages after phagocytosis of Candida glabrata.

Candida glabrata is believed to be the underlying cause of many human ailments, including oral, gastrointestinal, and vaginal disorders. C. glabrata-caused deep-seated infections, coupled with its resistance to antifungal drugs, may contribute to a high mortality rate. Resveratrol is a polyphenol and can achieve better therapeutic effects when administered in combination with micafungin, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we investigate the effects of varying doses of resveratrol on the proliferation, apoptosis, and activity of macrophages, which were co-cultured with micafungin-pretreated C. glabrata. Resveratrol can restore the decreased proliferative activity of macrophages caused by the phagocytosis of C. glabrata. Further investigations demonstrated that this restoration ability exhibited a dose-dependent manner, reaching the highest level at 200 µM of resveratrol. Resveratrol tended to be more effective in inhibiting macrophage apoptosis and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels with concentration increases. In addition, at medium concentrations, resveratrol may down-regulate the expression of most inflammatory cytokines, whereas at high concentrations, it started to exert pro-inflammatory functions by up-regulating their expressions. Macrophages may shift from an anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype to an inflammatory (M1) phenotype by resveratrol at 200 µM, and from M1 to M2 at 400 µM. Our research shows that resveratrol with micafungin are effective in treating C. glabrata infections. The resveratrol-micafungin combination can reduce the production of ROS, and promote the proliferation, inhibit the apoptosis, and activate the polarization of macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. This study offers insights into how this combination works and may provide possible direction for further clinical application of the combination.

Preoperative and Prognostic Prediction of Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review Based on Artificial Intelligence.

Microvascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma is an important factor affecting tumor recurrence after liver resection and liver transplantation. There are many ways to classify microvascular invasion, however, an international consensus is urgently needed. Recently, artificial intelligence has emerged as an important tool for improving the clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Many studies about microvascular invasion currently focus on preoperative and prognosis prediction of microvascular invasion using artificial intelligence. In this paper, we review the definition and staging of microvascular invasion, especially the diagnosis of it by using artificial intelligence. In preoperative prediction, deep learning based on multimodal data modeling of radiomics-screened features, clinical features, and medical images is currently the most effective means. In prognostic prediction, pathology is the gold standard, and the techniques used should more effectively utilize the global features of the pathology images.

Overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sintilimab and disease outcome after treatment discontinuation.

BACKGROUND: The use of Anti-PD-1 therapy has yielded promising outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, limited research has been conducted on the overall survival (OS) of patients with varying tumor responses and treatment duration. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed HCC patients who received sintilimab between January 2019 and December 2020 at four centers in China. The evaluation of tumor progression was based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. The study investigated the correlation between tumor response and OS, and the impact of drug use on OS following progressive disease (PD). RESULTS: Out of 441 treated patients, 159 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. Among them, 77 patients with disease control exhibited a significantly longer OS compared to the 82 patients with PD (median OS 26.0 vs. 11.3 months, P < 0.001). Additionally, the OS of patients with objective response (OR) was better than that of patients with stable disease (P = 0.002). Among the 47 patients with PD who continued taking sintilimab, the OS was better than the 35 patients who discontinued treatment (median OS 11.4 vs. 6.9 months, P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the tumor response in HCC patients who received sintilimab affects OS, and patients with PD may benefit from continued use of sintilimab.

Electrowetting-driven liquid lens for ultrasound: Enabling controllable focal length and flexible beam steering.

Focused ultrasound is an increasingly popular non-invasive treatment modality. Still, its fixed focal point requires an array ultrasound transducer or scanning system to cover different therapeutic scenarios. To address this limitation, we developed an electrically-controlled liquid lens that enables dynamic beam focusing and steering of the incident plane ultrasound beam. The lens was carefully optimized for low-energy attenuation and low-voltage driving. We evaluated the performance of the lens using a homemade 5.5-MHz planar transducer with a 7.5-mm aperture. Our results demonstrate that the planar ultrasound beam can be adjusted to a focused beam with a focal length from 27 mm to 32 mm within 1 s by increasing the electric input (0-60 V) to the lens. Additionally, the beam angle of the ultrasound is tunable from -5 to 5° by adjusting the charge distribution on the lens. Our design enables real-time, fast-response, on-demand changing of focal length and beam angle for a single-element planar transducer. Our study presents a promising technology for altering the ultrasound beam of a planar single-element transducer for different ultrasound applications. The development of this electrically-controlled liquid lens has the potential to enhance the efficacy of focused ultrasound treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Hybrid Metal/Spinel Oxide Coating with Microcone Arrays to Stimulate a Photothermal-Augmented Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

To boost the kinetic process of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hybrid CoNiFe/Fe(Fe,Mo,Al)2 O4 coatings are deposited on pure Ti substrates (namely, CoNiFe/Fe(Fe,Mo,Al)2 O4 /Ti electrodes). This new coating features a dense inner layer together with an outer layer of microcone arrays (MCAs). The electrochemical surface area of the electrodes is modulated by controlling the geometrical factors of the MCAs. For the OER in 1.0 m KOH, the electrodes require minimum overpotentials of 245 and 333 mV to realize current densities of, respectively, 10 and 100 mA cm-2 . Furthermore, the high aspect ratio of the MCAs enables the electrodes to exhibit strong sunlight capture. Under 10 min of simulated 1.0 sun illumination, the electrode's temperature can rise by up to 108.2 °C. The number of active sites and the OER reaction rate of the electrodes are further increased by photoassistance, with only 234 and 296 mV overpotentials, respectively, needed to generate current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm-2 with a Tafel slope as low as 40.9 mV dec-1 . Therefore, the application of this composite coating, which exhibits photothermal effects with respect to conventional Ti electrodes, provides an inspiration for further improvement of OER catalytic efficiency.

CO electroreduction on single-atom copper.

Electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) or carbon monoxide (CO) toward C2+ hydrocarbons such as ethylene, ethanol, acetate and propanol represents a promising approach toward carbon-negative electrosynthesis of chemicals. Fundamental understanding of the carbon─carbon (C-C) coupling mechanisms in these electrocatalytic processes is the key to the design and development of electrochemical systems at high energy and carbon conversion efficiencies. Here, we report the investigation of CO electreduction on single-atom copper (Cu) electrocatalysts. Atomically dispersed Cu is coordinated on a carbon nitride substrate to form high-density copper─nitrogen moieties. Chemisorption, electrocatalytic, and computational studies are combined to probe the catalytic mechanisms. Unlike the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism known for copper metal surfaces, the confinement of CO adsorption on the single-copper-atom sites enables an Eley-Rideal type of C-C coupling between adsorbed (*CO) and gaseous [CO(g)] carbon moxide molecules. The isolated Cu sites also selectively stabilize the key reaction intermediates determining the bifurcation of reaction pathways toward different C2+ products.

Combination of alpha-fetoprotein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to predict treatment response and survival outcomes of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, long-term survival outcomes and treatment response of HCC patients undergoing immunotherapy is unpredictable. The study aimed to evaluate the role of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to predict the prognosis and treatment response of HCC patients receiving ICIs. METHODS: Patients with unresectable HCC who received ICI treatment were included. The HCC immunotherapy score was developed from a retrospective cohort at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital to form the training cohort. The clinical variables independently associated with overall survival (OS) were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Based on multivariate analysis of OS, a predictive score based on AFP and NLR was constructed, and patients were stratified into three risk groups according to this score. The clinical utility of this score to predict progression-free survival (PFS) and differentiate objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) was also performed. This score was validated in an independent external validation cohort at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. RESULTS: Baseline AFP ≤ 400 ng/ml (hazard ratio [HR] 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24-0.97; P = 0.039) and NLR ≤ 2.77 (HR 0.11; 95% CI, 0.03-0.37; P<0.001) were found to be independent risk factors of OS. The two labolatory values were used to develop the score to predict survival outcomes and treatment response in HCC patients receiving immunotherapy, which assigned 1 point for AFP > 400 ng/ml and 3 points for NLR > 2.77. Patients with 0 point were classified as the low-risk group. Patients with 1-3 points were categorized as the intermediate-risk group. Patients with 4 points were classified as the high-risk group. In the training cohort, the median OS of the low-risk group was not reached. The median OS of the intermediate-risk group and high-risk group were 29.0 (95% CI 20.8-37.3) months and 16.0 (95% CI 10.8-21.2) months, respectively (P < 0.001). The median PFS of the low-risk group was not reached. The median PFS of the intermediate-risk group and high-risk group were 14.6 (95% CI 11.3-17.8) months and 7.6 (95% CI 3.6-11.7) months, respectively (P < 0.001). The ORR and DCR were highest in the low-risk group, followed by the intermediate-risk group and the high-risk group (P < 0.001, P = 0.007, respectively). This score also had good predictive power using the validation cohort. CONCLUSION: The HCC immunotherapy score based on AFP and NLR can predict survival outcomes and treatment response in patients receiving ICI treatments, suggesting that this score could serve as a useful tool for identification of HCC patients likely to benefit from immunotherapy.

Infective Spondylitis with Epidural Abscess Formation Caused by Roseomonas mucosa: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Roseomonas mucosa (R. mucosa) is a pink-pigmented, aerobic, nonfermentative, slow-growing Gram-negative coccus typically isolated from the natural environment, human skin, and hospital environment. This pathogen, in most circumstances, leads to infections in immunocompromised hosts, but it may sometimes invade immunocompetent individuals. Bacteraemia is the most common form of infection caused by R. mucosa. In contrast, only two case reports have described R. mucosa-related epidural abscess formation and infective spondylitis. In this case report, we shared the history and treatment experience of a 76-year-old female who was diagnosed with infective spondylitis and epidural abscess caused by R. mucosa. She received a local transdermal injection into the lower back to relieve her back pain two months before symptom onset, which was considered to be associated with this infection episode. After admission to the hospital, neurosurgeons performed emergent decompression and debridement. She was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone for four weeks, followed by oral ciprofloxacin for another eight weeks. The patient recovered well without any sequelae and had no relapse of infection at least six months after the end of treatment. In addition to the case report, we reviewed the literature for reported cases caused by R. mucosa. Our experience suggests that clinicians should include R. mucosa as one of the possible healthcare-associated pathogens among individuals who have undergone transdermal procedures. We believe that this article will help clinicians better recognize R. mucosa infection.

Surface plasmon coupling effects on the photon color conversion behaviors of colloidal quantum dots in a GaN nanoscale hole with a nearby quantum-well structure.

To improve color conversion performance for color display application, we study the near-field-induced nanoscale-cavity effects on the emission efficiency and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) under the condition of surface plasmon (SP) coupling by inserting colloidal quantum dots (QDs) and synthesized Ag nanoparticles (NPs) into surface nano-holes fabricated on a GaN template and an InGaN/GaN quantum-well (QW) template. In the QW template, the inserted Ag NPs are close to either QWs or QDs for producing three-body SP coupling to enhance color conversion. Time-resolved and continuous-wave photoluminescence (PL) behaviors of the QW- and QD-emitting lights are investigated. The comparison between the nano-hole samples and the reference samples of surface QD/Ag NP shows that the nanoscale-cavity effect of the nano-hole leads to the enhancements of QD emission, FRET between QDs, and FRET from QW into QD. The SP coupling induced by the inserted Ag NPs can enhance the QD emission and FRET from QW into QD. Its result is further enhanced through the nanoscale-cavity effect. The relative continuous-wave PL intensities among different color components also show the similar behaviors. By introducing SP coupling to a color conversion device with the FRET process in a nanoscale cavity structure, we can significantly improve the color conversion efficiency. Simulation results confirm the basic observations in experiment.