Magnetic resonance imaging-based lymph node radiomics for predicting the metastasis of evaluable lymph nodes in rectal cancer

BACKGROUND Lymph node(LN)staging in rectal cancer(RC)affects treatment decisions and patient prognosis.For radiologists,the traditional preoperative assessment of LN metastasis(LNM)using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)poses a challenge.AIM To explore the value of a nomogram model that combines Conventional MRI and radiomics features from the LNs of RC in assessing the preoperative metastasis of evaluable LNs.METHODS In this retrospective study,270 LNs(158 nonmetastatic,112 metastatic)were randomly split into training(n=189)and validation sets(n=81).LNs were classified based on pathology-MRI matching.Conventional MRI features[size,shape,margin,T2-weighted imaging(T2WI)appearance,and CE-T1-weighted imaging(T1WI)enhancement]were evaluated.Three radiomics models used 3D features from T1WI and T2WI images.Additionally,a nomogram model combining conventional MRI and radiomics features was developed.The model used univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression.Evaluation employed the receiver operating characteristic curve,with DeLong test for comparing diagnostic performance.Nomogram performance was assessed using calibration and decision curve analysis.RESULTS The nomogram model outperformed conventional MRI and single radiomics models in evaluating LNM.In the training set,the nomogram model achieved an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.92,which was significantly higher than the AUCs of 0.82(P<0.001)and 0.89(P<0.001)of the conventional MRI and radiomics models,respectively.In the validation set,the nomogram model achieved an AUC of 0.91,significantly surpassing 0.80(P<0.001)and 0.86(P<0.001),respectively.CONCLUSION The nomogram model showed the best performance in predicting metastasis of evaluable LNs.

Effect of etanercept on post-traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal etanercept in the inhibiting of proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR) in a model of penetrating ocular injury. METHODS: Penetrating ocular injury on the retina of rabbit was induced, which was subsequently treated using 0.1 mL of sterile water or 0.1 m L of 12.5 mg/mL etanercept. The development of PVR was evaluated by fundus images, the B-scan, and the histopathology. The mRNA and protein expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) as well as connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) were examined at various time points after the etanercept injection with the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The safety of etanercept was evaluated by injection of 12.5 mg/mL etanercept into a normal rabbit eye without penetrating trauma. RESULTS: Clinical assessment and grading clearly demonstrated that the PVR formation was prevented in etanercept-treated animals, which was confirmed via fundus images, B-scan and histopathology. The RT-PCR and Western blotting showed increased mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α, TGF-β as well as CTGF in the retina of rabbits following penetrating ocular injury, and these factors were dramatically mitigated by ocular etanercept treatment. In addition, there was no adverse effect of etanercept intravitreal injection in normal eyes without penetrating trauma, it showed normal structure and histology. CONCLUSION: The etanercept is a potential therapy for inhibiting PVR development. To assess the clinic application of the etanercept in preventing PVR, further clinical studies are required.

Effect of h GC-MSCs from human gastric cancer tissue on cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in tumor tissue of gastric cancer tumor-bearing mice

Objective: To study the effect of h GC-MSCs from human gastric cancer tissue on cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in tumor tissue of gastric cancer tumor-bearing mice. Methods: BABL/c nude mice were selected as experimental animals and gastric cancer tumor-bearing mice model were established by subcutaneous injection of gastric cancer cells, randomly divided into different intervention groups. h GC-MSCs group was given different amounts of gastric cancer cells for subcutaneous injection, PBS group was given equal volume of PBS for subcutaneous injection. Then tumor tissue volume were determined, tumor-bearing mice were killed and tumor tissues were collected, m RNA expression of proliferation, invasion, EMT related molecules were determined. Results: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 d after intervention, tumor tissue volume of h GC-MSCs group were significantly higher than those of PBS group and the more the number of h GC-MSCs, the higher the tumor tissue volume; m RNA contents of Ki-67, PCNA, Bcl-2, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-14, N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail and Twist in tumor tissue of h GC-MSCs group were higher than those of PBS group, and m RNA contents of Bax, TIMP1, TIMP2 and E-cadherin were lower than those of PBS group. Conclusions: h GC-MSCs from human gastric cancer tissue can promote the tumor growth in gastric cancer tumor-bearing mice, and the molecular mechanism includes promoting cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

A New Competitive Inhibitory Monoclonal Antibody to Carboxypcptidase A(CPA)

The monoclonal antibody ID11D7 to carboxypeptidase A (CPA) was prepared. Theinhibitory effect of McAb ID11D7 on the peptidase activity of CPA was measured. The result reflectsthat the McAb ID11D7 can competitively inhibit the peptidase activity of CPA with an apparentinhibitory constant of 6.3 × 10-9M. Based on this work. the McAb ID11D7 can be used as idiotypicantigen to prepare anti-idiotypic catalytic antibody with the peptidase activity similar to CPA.

Prediction for the Multi-band Afterglows of FRB 200428 and its Implication

The physical mechanism of fast radio bursts(FRBs) is still unknown. On 2020 April 28, a special radio burst, FRB200428, was detected and believed to be associated with the Galactic magnetar SGR 1935+2154. It confirms that at least some of the FRBs were generated by magnetars, although the radiation mechanism continues to be debated.To this end, we study in detail the multiband afterglows of FRB 200428 described by the synchrotron fireball shock model. We find the prediction for the optical and radio afterglows of FRB 200428 is consistent with the observations when considering the post-FRB optical and radio upper limits from the literature. We also show that the follow up detection of the afterglows from fast radio bursts like—FRB 200428 is possible at the radio band,though challenging. Based on our model, one can obtain information about the energy of the fireball, the radiation zone, and the nature of the surrounding medium. That may shed light on the physical mechanism of FRBs.

An Alternative Operation Scheme to Improve the Efficiency of a Stark Decelerator

A Stark decelerator can slow down polar molecules to very low velocities.When the velocities are very low,the number of cold molecules obtained is very small.In order to obtain a higher quantity of cold molecules,inspired by the work of Reens et al.[Phys.Rev.Res.2(2020)033095],we propose an alternative method of operating a Stark decelerator.Through the trajectory simulation of OH molecules in the decelerator,we find that the number of cold molecules can be greatly increased by one order of magnitude at both low and high final velocities on a Stark decelerator consisting of around 150 electrodes.This development is due to the improved longitudinal and the transverse focusing property provided by the new switching schemes and the high-voltage configurations on the decelerator unit.

Multiphoton Ionization of Potassium Atoms in Femtosecond Laser Fields

We study the multiphoton ionization of potassium atoms in 800 nm and 400 nm femtosecond laser fields.In the 800 nm laser field,the potassium atom absorbs three photons and emits one electron via one photon resonance with the 4p intermediate state with the help of the ac-Stark shift.The resonance feature is clearly shown as an Autler-Townes(AT) splitting and is mapped out in the electron kinetic energy spectrum.In a 400 nm laser field,although one photon resonance is possible with the 5p state,no splitting is observed.The different transition amplitudes between 4s-4p and 4s-5p explain the observed results.Due to the AT effect,an unexpected peak in the photoelectron energy spectrum that violates the dipole transition rule is observed.A preliminary explanation involving the spin-orbit interaction in the p state is given to account for this component.The observed ATsplitting in the electron kinetic energy distribution can be used as an effective method to calibrate the intensity of a laser field.

The cGAS-STING signaling in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases: Future novel target option for pharmacotherapy

The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes(STING) signaling exert essential regulatory function in microbial-and onco-immunology through the induction of cytokines, primarily type I interferons. Recently, the aberrant and deranged signaling of the cGAS-STING axis is closely implicated in multiple sterile inflammatory diseases, including heart failure,myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, aortic aneurysm and dissection, obesity, etc. This is because of the massive loads of damage-associated molecular patterns(mitochondrial DNA, DNA in extracellular vesicles) liberated from recurrent injury to metabolic cellular organelles and tissues, which are sensed by the pathway. Also, the cGAS-STING pathway crosstalk with essential intracellular homeostasis processes like apoptosis, autophagy, and regulate cellular metabolism.Targeting derailed STING signaling has become necessary for chronic inflammatory diseases. Meanwhile, excessive type I interferons signaling impact on cardiovascular and metabolic health remain entirely elusive. In this review, we summarize the intimate connection between the cGAS-STING pathway and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. We also discuss some potential small molecule inhibitors for the pathway. This review provides insight to stimulate interest in and support future research into understanding this signaling axis in cardiovascular and metabolic tissues and diseases.

The essential role of N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation in complex eye diseases

There are many complex eye diseases which are the leading causes of blindness,however,the pathogenesis of the complex eye diseases is not fully understood,especially the underlying molecular mechanisms of N6-methyladenosine(m6A)RNA methylation in the eye diseases have not been extensive clarified.Our review summarizes the latest advances in the studies of m6A modification in the pathogenesis of the complex eye diseases,including cornea disease,cataract,diabetic retinopathy,age-related macular degeneration,proliferative vitreoretinopathy,Graves’disease,uveal melanoma,retinoblastoma,and traumatic optic neuropathy.We further discuss the possibility of developing m6A modification signatures as biomarkers for the diagnosis of the eye diseases,as well as potential therapeutic approaches.

A sustained-release microcarrier effectively prolongs and enhances the antibacterial activity of lysozyme

Bacterial infections have become a great threat to public health in recent years.A primary lysozyme is a natural antimicrobial protein;however,its widespread application is limited by its instability.Here,we present a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)hydrogel inverse opal particle(PHIOP)as a microcarrier of lysozyme to prolong and enhance the efficiency against bacteria.This PHIOP-based lysozyme(PHIOP-Lys)formulation is temperature-responsive and exhibits long-term sustained release of lysozyme for up to 16 days.It shows a potent antibacterial effect toward both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus,which is even higher than that of free lysozyme in solution at the same concentration.PHIOPs-Lys were demonstrated to effectively inhibit bacterial infections and enhance wound healing in a full-thickness skin wound rat model.This study provides a novel pathway for prolonging the enzymatic activity and antibacterial effects of lysozyme.