Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization as neoadjuvant therapy pre-liver transplantation for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to assess the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization(DEB-TACE)as neoadjuvant therapy before liver transplantation(LT)for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and to analyze the prognostic factors.AIM To determine whether DEB-TACE before LT is superior to LT for advanced-stage HCC.METHODS A total of 99 individuals diagnosed with advanced HCC were studied retrospectively.The participants were categorized into the following two groups based on whether they had received DEB-TACE before LT:DEB-TACE group(n=45)and control group(n=54).The participants were further divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of segmental portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT).The DEB-TACE group consisted of two subgroups:Group A(n=31)without PVTT and group B(n=14)with PVTT.The control group also had two subgroups:Group C(n=37)without PVTT and group D(n=17)with PVTT.Data on patient demographics,disease characteristics,therapy response,and adverse events(AEs)were collected.The overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS)rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to determine the parameters that were independently related to OS and RFS.RESULTS The DEB-TACE group exhibited an overall response rate of 86.6%.Following therapy,there was a significant decrease in the median alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)level(275.1 ng/mL vs 41.7 ng/mL,P<0.001).The main AE was post-embolization syndrome.The 2-year rates of RFS and OS were significantly higher in the DEB-TACE group than in the control group(68.9%vs 38.9%,P=0.003;86.7%vs 63.0%,P=0.008).Within the subgroups,group A had higher 2-year rates of RFS and OS compared to group C(71.0%vs 45.9%,P=0.038;83.8%vs 62.2%,P=0.047).The 2-year RFS rate of group B was markedly superior to that of group D(64.3%vs 23.5%,P=0.002).Results from multivariate analyses showed that pre-LT DEB-TACE[hazard ratio(HR)=2.73,95%confidence interval(CI):1.44-5.14,P=0.04],overall target tumor diameter≤7 cm(HR=1.98,95%CI:1.05-3.75,P=0.035),and AFP level≤400 ng/mL(HR=2.34;95%CI:1.30-4.19,P=0.009)were significant risk factors for RFS.Additionally,pre-LT DEBTACE(HR=3.15,95%CI:1.43-6.96,P=0.004)was identified as a significant risk factor for OS.CONCLUSION DEB-TACE is a safe and efficient therapy for advanced-stage HCC and also enhances patient survival after LT.

Practical 2.45-GHz microwave-driven Cs-free Hˉ ion source developed at Peking University

A practical 2.45-GHz microwave-driven Cs-free H^- source was improved based on the experimental H^- source at Peking University（PKU）. Several structural improvements were implemented to meet the practical requirements of Xi＇an Proton Application Facility（XiPaf）. Firstly, the plasma chamber size was optimized to enhance the plasma intensity and stability. Secondly, the filter magnetic field and electron deflecting magnetic field were enhanced to reduce co-extracted electrons. Thirdly, a new two-electrode extraction system with farther electrode gap and enhanced water cooling ability to diminish spark and sputter during beam extraction was applied. At last, the direct H^- current measuring method was adopted by the arrangement of a new pair of bending magnets before Faraday cup（FC） to remove residual electrons. With these improvements, electron cyclotron resonance（ECR） magnetic field optimization experiments and operation parameter variation experiments were carried out on the H^- ion source and a maximum 8.5-mA pure H^- beam was extracted at 50 kV with the time structure of 100 Hz/0.3 ms. The root-mean-square（RMS） emittance of the beam is 0.25 Π·mm·mrad. This improved H^- source and extraction system were maintenance-free for more than 200 hours in operation.

Evidence of Dichogamy in Santalum album L.

Flowering, fruit set, embryological development, and pollination trials were Investigated In Santslum album L. Each ovary may have three to four ovules. Mlcrosporogenesls and megasporogenesls In the same flower were synchronized at the earlier stages of flower development. However, at anthesls, when pollen was mature, the magaspore had developed only to the stage of a one- to two-nucleus embryo sac. As the eight-nucleus embryo sac developed, some mamelon cells began to undergo programmed cell death, forming holes Into which the eight-nucleus embryo sacs extended, becoming ＂N＂ or ＂S＂ shaped. The development from a two-nucleus embryo sac to a matured eight-nucleus embryo sac lasted up to 10 d. Fruit-set from open pollination was less than 2%. The endosperm develops prior to division of the zygotic embryo and one to three embryos and endosperms were formed In the same fruit. A mature seed usually germinates to produce one seedling; however, two and three seedlings from one seed were also observed, albeit at a low frequency. Pollination trials showed that no seed sets when Inflorescences were covered with s bag; however, artificial pollination could Improve fruit set. Our pollinaUon trials and embryological studies proved that the flower of S. album Is dlchogamous and fruit set has high heterozygosity.

Green Road Construction Technologies in Guangzhou

Total road pavement in Guangzhou reaches 77×10~6m^2.Its huge maintenance and potential rehabilitation calls for a green road system.This paper presents a discussion,first about green road construction technologies together with their applications and development like reclaimed asphalt pavement,rubberized asphalt pavement,and warm mix asphalt; and then,about the key obstacles for promotion and activities,primarily for green road promotion,in the perspectives of the current technical and application situations in China and separately in Guangzhou.Based on environmental and conditional analysis,as well as a development expectation from an industrial viewpoint,this paper creates a development trend of green road technologies.