Biomarkers and potential pathogenesis of colorectal cancer-related ischemic stroke

AIM To investigate the specific biomarkers and potential pathogenesis of colorectal cancer-related ischemic stroke(CRCIS).METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on CRCIS patients(colorectal cancer patients with ischemic stroke without conventional stroke risk factors) registered at seven centers between January 2007 and December 2017. Clinical data and laboratory and imaging findings were compared with age-and sex-matched patients with colorectal cancer(CRC) without ischemic stroke that were admitted to the same hospital during the same period. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the independent risk factors for CRCIS. A receiver operator characteristic curve was configured to calculate the optimal cut-off value of the products of the independent risk factors for CRCIS. RESULTS A total of 114 CRCIS patients and 114 CRC patients were included. Multiple lesions in multiple vascular territories were common in CRCIS patients(71, 62.28%). The levels of plasma D-dimer, carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA), cancer antigen 125, and neutrophil count were significantly higher in CRCIS patients than in CRC patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma D-dimer levels [odds ratio(OR) = 1.002, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.001-1.003, P < 0.001], CEA levels(OR = 1.011, 95%CI: 1.006-1.015, P < 0.001), and neutrophil count levels(OR = 1.626, 95%CI: 1.268-2.087, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for CRCIS. In addition, receiver operator characteristic curve revealed that the area under curve for the products of plasma D-dimer, CEA, and neutrophil count was 0.889 ± 0.022(95%CI: 0.847-0.932, P < 0.001), and the optimal cut-off value for the product was 252.06, which was called the CRCIS Index, with a sensitivity of 86.0% and specificity of 79.8%.CONCLUSION Hypercoagulability induced by elevated CEA and neutrophils may be an important cause of CRCIS. The CRCIS index, which serves as a biomarker of CRCIS, needs further study.

Electrochemical properties of powder-pressed Pb-Ag-PbO_(2) anodes

Pb?Ag?PbO2 composite anodes with different mass fractions(1%,2%,3%,4%and 5%)ofβ-PbO2 were prepared by powder-pressed(PP)method.The galvanostatic polarization curves,Tafel curves and anodic polarization curves were tested in sulfuric acid solution.The morphologies and phase compositions of the anodic layers formed after galvanostatic polarization were investigated by using scanning electron microscope(SEM)and X-ray diffractometer(XRD),respectively.The results showed thatβ-PbO2 can improve the electrocatalytic activity of anodic oxide.The anode containing 3%β-PbO2 had the lowest overpotential of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and the best corrosion resistance.The morphologies of the anode surfaces were gradually transformed from regular crystals to amorphous ones as the content ofβ-PbO2 increased in anodes.

Tf_2NH-catalyzed,highly regio-and stereo-selective synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes and indane derivatives from benzylic alcohols and alkenes

A reaction of benzylic alcohols with alkenes has been developed in the presence of bis（trifluoromethane）sulfonimide for the synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes and indane derivatives with high stereoselectivity.In general,benzylic alcohols react with 1,1-diaryl alkenes to afford trisubstituted alkenes,and the reaction with 1,2-disubstituted and trisubstituted alkenes affords indane derivatives through a [3 ＋ 2] annulation reaction.