Correlation of integrin β3 mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression profiles with the clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric carcinoma

AIM:To investigate integrin β3 mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression in gastric carcinoma, and its correlation with microvascular density, growth-pattern, invasion, metastasis and prognosis. METHODS: In situ hybridization (ISH) of integrin β3 mRNA and immunohistochemistry of VEGF and CD34 protein were performed on samples from 118 patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS: The positive rate of integrin β3 mRNA in non- tumor gastric mucosa (20%) was significantly lower than that of the gastric cancer tissue (52.5%, χ2 = 10.20, P < 0.01). In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the positive expression rates of integrin β3 mRNA were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P < 0.01), stage T1-T2 (P < 0.01), non-vessel invasion (P < 0.01), without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01), respectively. In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the positive expression rates of VEGF protein were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P < 0.01), stage T1-T2 (P < 0.01), non-vessel invasion (P < 0.01), without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01), respectively. In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic orperitoneal metastasis, the mean MVD were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P < 0.01), stage T1-T2 (P < 0.01), non-vessel invasion (P < 0.01), without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01), respectively. It was found that the positive expression rate of integrin β3 mRNA was positively related to that of VEGF protein (P < 0.01) and MVD (P < 0.05), meanwhile the positive expression rate of VEGF protein was positively related to MVD (P < 0.05). The mean survival period in patients with positive expression of integrin β3 mRNA and VEGF, and MVD ≥ 54.9/mm2 was significantly shorter than that in patients with negative expression of integrin β3 mRNA (P < 0.05) and VEGF (P < 0.01), and MVD < 54.9/mm2 (P < 0.01). Five-year survival rate in patients with positive expression of integrin β3 mRNA and VEGF, and MVD ≥ 54.9/mm2 was significantly lower than those with negative expression of integrin β3 mRNA (P < 0.05), VEGF (P < 0.05), and MVD < 54.9/mm2 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Integrin β3 and VEGF expression can synergistically enhance tumor angiogenesis, and may play a crucial role in invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma. Therefore, they may be prognostic biomarkers and novel molecular therapeutic targets.

Tracing the Deep Carbon Cycle Using Metal Stable Isotopes: Opportunities and Challenges

The subduction of marine carbonates and carbonated oceanic crust to the Earth’s interior and the return of recycled carbon to the surface via volcanism may play a pivotal role in governing Earth’s atmosphere, climate, and biosphere over geologic time. Identifying recycled marine carbonates and evaluating their fluxes in Earth’s mantle are essential in order to obtain a complete understanding of the global deep carbon cycle (DCC). Here, we review recent advances in tracing the DCC using stable isotopes of divalent metals such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn). The three isotope systematics show great capability as tracers due to appreciable isotope differences between marine carbonate and the terrestrial mantle. Recent studies have observed anomalies of Ca, Mg, and Zn isotopes in basalts worldwide, which have been interpreted as evidence for the recycling of carbonates into the mantle, even into the mantle transition zone (410–660 km). Nevertheless, considerable challenges in determining the DCC remain because other processes can potentially fractionate isotopes in the same direction as expected for carbonate recycling;these processes include partial melting, recycling of carbonated eclogite, separation of metals and carbon, and diffusion. Discriminating between these effects has become a key issue in the study of the DCC and must be considered when interpreting any isotope anomaly of mantle-derived rocks. An ongoing evaluation on the plausibility of potential mechanisms and possible solutions for these challenges is discussed in detail in this work. Based on a comprehensive evaluation, we conclude that the large-scale Mg and Zn isotope anomalies of the Eastern China basalts were produced by recycling of Mg- and Zn-rich carbonates into their mantle source.

Refractive index sensor based on high-order surface plasmon resonance in gold nanofilm coated photonic crystal fiber

We propose a novel kind of wide-range refractive index optical sensor based on photonic crystal fiber(PCF) covered with nano-ring gold film.The refractive index sensing performance of the PCF sensor is analyzed and simulated by the finite element method(FEM).The refractive index liquid is infiltrated into the cladding air hole of the PCF.By comparing the sensing performance of two kinds of photonic crystal fiber structures, a wide range and high sensitivity structure is optimized.The surface plasmon resonance(SPR) excitation material is chose as gold, and large gold nanorings are embedded around the first cladding air hole of the PCF.The higher order surface plasmon modes are generated in this designed optical fiber structure.The resonance coupling between the fundamental mode and the 5 th order surface plasmon polariton(SPP)modes is excited when the phase matching condition is matched.Therefore, the 3 rd loss peaks appear obvious red-shift with the increase of the analyte refractive index, which shows a remarkable polynomial fitting law.The fitnesses of two structures are 0.99 and 0.98, respectively.When the range of refractive indices is from 1.40 to 1.43, the two kinds of sensors have high linear sensitivities of 1604 nm/RIU and 3978 nm/RIU, respectively.

Interpersonal psychotherapy-based psychological intervention for patient suffering from COVID-19:A case report

BACKGROUND Novel coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)was first found in Wuhan,China,and it has rapidly spread worldwide since the end of 2019.There is an urgent need to treat the physical and psychological aspects of COVID-19.Interpersonal psychotherapy(IPT)-based psychological intervention is an evidence-based therapy for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.CASE SUMMARY This report describes a case of COVID-19 in a patient who transmitted the disease to his entire family.The patient received four sessions of IPT-based psychological intervention.We used the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Patient Health Questionnaire to measure depression level,and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder to measure anxiety among the patients.CONCLUSION This case shows that IPT-based therapy can reduce COVID-19 patient depression and anxiety and the advantage of IPT-based therapy.

Scheduling Jobs with Release and Delivery Times Subject to Nested Eligibility Constraints

The problem of scheduling jobs with release and delivery time subject to machine eligibility constraints is considered.The eligible sets of the jobs are nested,and pre-emptions are not allowed.The goal is to minimize the maximum delivery completion time,i.e.,the time by which all jobs are delivered.For the special case of equal release time,a 2-approximation algorithm is presented whose running time depends linearly on the number of jobs.For the general case of unequal release time,a polynomial time approximation scheme is derived.

基于网络的整合心理干预对新冠肺炎患者抑郁焦虑症状的改善作用

目的:探讨基于网络的整合心理干预对新冠肺炎患者抑郁焦虑症状的有效性。创新点:针对大规模公共卫生事件的患者,首次采用基于网络的整合心理干预技术开展抑郁焦虑症状的治疗。这不仅能够让隔离患者更便捷地获得心理干预,而且减少了心理医生的感染暴露机会。方法:纳入26例伴有抑郁焦虑症状的新冠肺炎患者,随机分为干预组和对照组。干预组给予基于网络的整合心理干预,患者在医生指导下,通过智能手机聆听音频材料,并接受整合心理干预,包括放松训练、正念治疗、"安全地"技术和蝴蝶拥抱法;对照组则给予支持性心理治疗。通过HAMD-17与HAMA量表评估患者的抑郁焦虑水平。我们发现在1周末及2周末干预组患者HAMD-17与HAMA减分均明显优于对照组。结论:基于网络的整合心理干预可有效改善伴有抑郁焦虑症状的新冠肺炎患者的情绪症状,且对隔离患者来说更便捷,也减少了心理医生的感染暴露机会。

对围产期新冠肺炎患者开展辩证行为治疗为基础的心理治疗:案例报告

目的:孕产妇的心理健康风险较为突出,但尚未有文献说明何种心理干预方式对患有新冠肺炎的围产期孕妇有效。本文报告了一例确诊新冠肺炎的35周2天孕妇在入住隔离病房后,使用辩证行为治疗(DBT)相关技术对其存在的抑郁和焦虑症状在围产期进行持续心理干预的案例,旨在探究以DBT为基础的短程心理治疗对围产期新冠肺炎患者的抑郁和焦虑症状的改善作用。创新点:首例对确诊新冠肺炎的孕产妇进行产前及产后心理评估及干预的案例。也是首次报道在公共卫生危机事件的个体干预中使用了DBT相关技术。方法:患者,女,30岁,孕35周+2天,干咳两天就诊,在当地医院进行新型冠状病毒核酸测验提示阳性后转入浙江大学医学院附属第一医院住院治疗。2020年2月8日行剖腹产,产后继续在隔离病房治疗。入院后精神科访谈及心理测量均提示存在抑郁和焦虑症状,于2月7日、10日、16日进行三次心理干预,主要使用DBT相关干预技术,包括放松训练、正念练习、情绪控制技巧训练、人际支持等。期间根据患者的需要及时调整干预策略。通过三次心理干预,患者的抑郁、焦虑症状得到改善,抑郁和焦虑量表评分与基线比显著下降。结论:本报告显示了对确诊新冠肺炎的隔离病房患者及时进行心理干预的必要性。心理干预能有效改善患者的抑郁、焦虑症状,减少或避免了精神类药物的使用,为新冠肺炎的临床治疗提供了支持。此报告也为以DBT为基础的心理治疗在危机干预中的应用提供了临床证据。