Endocan-expressing microvessel density as a prognostic factor for survival in human gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the expression of endocan in tumour vessels and the relationships between endocan and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and prognosis in gastric cancer.METHODS: This study included 142 patients with confirmed gastric cancer in a single cancer centre between 2008 and 2009. Clinicopathologic features were determined, and an immunohistochemical analysis of endocan-expressing microvessel density(MVD)(endocan-MVD), VEGF and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2(VEGFR2) was performed. Potential relationships between endocan-MVD and clinicopathological variables were assessed using a Student's t-test or an analysis of variance test. Spearman's rank correlation was applied to evaluate the relationship between endocan-MVD and the expression of VEGF/VEGFR2. long-term survival of these patients was analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.RESULTS: Positive staining of endocan was observed in most of the gastric cancer tissues(108/142) and in fewer of the normal gastric tissues. Endocan-MVD was not associated with gender or histological type(P > 0.05), while endocan-MVD was associated with tumour size,Borrmann type, tumour differentiation, tumour invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage(P < 0.05). According to the Spearman's rank correlation analysis, endocan-MVD had a positive correlation with VEGF(r = 0.167, P = 0.047) and VEGFR2(r = 0.410, P = 0.000). The univariate analysis with a log-rank test indicated that the patients with a high level of endocan-MVD had a significantly poorer overall survival rate than those with a low level of endocan-MVD(17.9% vs 64.0%, P = 0.000). The multivariate analysis showed that a high level of endocan-MVD was a valuable prognostic factor.CONCLUSION: Endocan-MVD significantly correlates with the expression of VEGF and VEGFR2 and is a valuable prognostic factor for survival in human gastric cancer.

PROPELLER DUO DWI序列+常规MRI在直肠癌术前T分期中的应用价值

目的研究螺旋桨采集技术扩散加权成像(PROPELLER DUO DWI)+核磁共振成像(MRI)诊断直肠癌术前T分期的应用价值。方法选取我院2018年6月至2020年6月直肠癌患者65例,均进行MRI及DWI扫描检查,以病理学诊断结果为“金标准”。比较常规MRI与常规MRI+DWI诊断直肠癌T分期的结果及准确率。结果65例直肠癌患者常规MRI诊断T1~T2期33例,T3期22例,T4期10例。MRI+PROPELLER DUO DWI诊断T1~T2期37例,T3期21例,T4期7例。MRI+PROPELLER DUO DWI诊断总准确率为92.3%(60/65),高于MRI[80.0%(52/65,P<0.05)]。结论与MRI常规序列比较,PROPELLER DUODWI技术+常规MRI在直肠癌患者术前T分期诊断中准确率更高,有助于临床治疗方案的制定。

Novel assays for quality evaluation of XueBiJing:Quality variability of a Chinese herbal injection for sepsis management

XueBiJing is an intravenous five-herb injection used to treat sepsis in China.The study aimed to develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)-or liquid chromatography-ultraviolet(LC-UV)-based assay for quality evaluation of XueBiJing.Assay development involved identifying marker constituents to make the assay therapeutically relevant and building a reliable one-point calibrator for monitoring the various analytes in parallel.Nine marker constituents from the five herbs were selected based on XueBiJing's chemical composition,pharmacokinetics,and pharmacodynamics.A selectivity test(for“similarity of response”)was developed to identify and minimize interference by nontarget constituents.Then,an intercept test was developed to fulfill“linearity through zero”for each analyte(absolute ratio of intercept to C response,<2%).Using the newly developed assays,we analyzed samples from 33 batches of XueBiJing,manufactured over three years,and found small batch-to-batch variability in contents of the marker constituents(4.1%-14.8%),except for senkyunolide I(26.5%).

Enhancement of Curie Temperature under Built-in Electric Field in Multi-Functional Janus Vanadium Dichalcogenides

Functionalized two-dimensional materials with multiferroicity are highly desired to be next-generation electronic devices.Here we theoretically predict a family of Janus vanadium dichalcogenides VXX'(X/X'=S,Se,Te)monolayers with multiferroic properties,combing ferromagnetism,ferroelasticity and piezoelectricity.Due to the unpaired electrons on the V atom,the Janus VXX'monolayers have intrinsic long-range ferromagnetic orders.Particularly,the Curie temperature of 1T-VSeTe monolayer is up to 100 K,which is greatly higher than 2D 1T-VSe2 and 1T-VTe2.Furthermore,the six Janus VXX'monolayers have similar crater-like ferroelastic switching curves.Compared to black phosphorus,2H-VSSe monolayer has the similar ferroelastic switching signal and 4 times lower energy barrier.In addition,the out-of-plane piezoelectricity induced by the structure asymmetry in the vertical direction gives the 2H-VXX'monolayers the potential to be piezoelectric materials.It is found that a built-in electric field in the vertical direction due to the different electronegativity values of chalcogen atoms induces the changes of electronic structures,which leads to the appearance of three different types of band gaps in the three H-phase structures.Recently,the experimental growth of the Janus MoSSe monolayers and the electrochemical exfoliation of ferromagnetic monolayered VSe2 make the Janus VXX'monolayers possibly fabricated in experiments.

SYMBOLIC COMPUTATION FOR THE QUALITATIVE THEORY OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

This paper provides a survey on symbolic computational approaches for the analysis of qualitative behaviors of systems of ordinary differential equations,focusing on symbolic and algebraic analysis for the local stability and bifurcation of limit cycles in the neighborhoods of equilibria and periodic orbits of the systems,with a highlight on applications to computational biology.

Identification of integrin β6 gene promoter and analysis of its transcription regulation in colon cancer cells

BACKGROUND The integrinβ6 gene,which is expressed in epithelial cancer,plays a pivotal role in various aspects of cancer progression.The present research for integrinβ6 regulation mainly focuses on the post-transcription and translation related regulation mechanism and its role in tumorigenesis.The mechanisms of how the integrinβ6 gene is regulated transcriptionally,and the promoter and transcription factors responsible for basic transcription of integrinβ6 gene remain unknown.AIM To clone and characterize the integrinβ6 promoter.METHODS Software analysis was used to predict the region of integrinβ6 promoter.Luciferase reporter plasmids,which contained the integrinβ6 promoter,were constructed.Element deletion analysis was performed to identify the location of core promoter and binding sites for transcription factors.RESULTS The regulatory elements for the transcription of the integrinβ6 gene were located between-286 and-85 and contained binding sites for transcription factors such as STAT3 and Ets-1.CONCLUSION For the first time,we found the region ofβ6 core promoter and demonstrated the binding sites for transcription factors such as Ets-1 and STAT3,which are important for integrinβ6 promoter transcription activity.These findings are important for investigating the mechanism of integrinβ6 activation in cancer progression.

肝脏炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤的CT、MRI表现及诊断

目的:探讨肝脏炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤的CT、MRI表现及诊断。方法:选取2018年2月到2018年10月我院收治的32例经病理诊断为肝脏炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤的患者,对其进行CT平扫与动态增强扫描,并对其中13例患者予以MRI平扫,观察患者的CT、MRI表现特征。结果:32例患者共检测出34个病灶,经CT平扫呈现出等密度结节或肿块,13例经MRI平扫后共检测出13个病灶,T2WI呈略高信号分布,T1WI中5例病灶呈略高信号分布,8例病灶呈等低信号分布;经动态增强扫描后,34个病灶表现出不同特点。结论:对肝脏炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤患者予以CT、MRI检测能够在较大程度上显示出病理学特点,为肝脏炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤的鉴别与诊断提供依据。

宁夏回族自治区农村成人盲及低视力流行病学调查

目的:调查宁夏回族自治区成人人群中盲及低视力患病情况,计算现阶段盲及低视力患病率并分析其主要原因。方法:横断面调查研究。采用多阶段整群随机抽样,于2021年6—11月在宁夏回族自治区抽取10个调查点,对其中18岁及以上人群进行问卷调查、视力、眼压、眼底照相和裂隙灯显微镜下眼部情况检查。对盲及低视力人群的相关眼病白内障、眼外伤、屈光不正、弱视、年龄相关性黄斑变性、糖尿病视网膜病变、青光眼、葡萄膜炎、神经性疾病、不明原因性眼底病及其他眼病进行统计,对不同年龄、性别、受教育程度、经济收入人群中单、双眼盲及单、双眼低视力患病率采用χ^(2)检验,并评估分析致盲及低视力的主要原因。结果:调查应检6145人,实际检查5721人,受检率达93.10%;年龄为(64.3±13.5)岁;男性2558人(44.70%),女性3163人(55.30%)。170人(2.97%)诊断为盲,其中146人(2.55%)为单眼盲,24人(0.42%)为双眼盲;285人(4.98%)诊断为低视力,其中226人(3.95%)为单眼低视力,59人(1.03%)为双眼低视力。盲及低视力患病率随年龄增长逐渐增加(χ^(2)=461.74,P<0.001);随受教育程度的增高而降低(χ^(2)=425.60,P<0.001);男性和女性之间差异无统计学意义(χ^(2)=0.12,P=0.727);年收入≥10000元人群患病率较年收入<10000元人群明显降低(χ^(2)=79.72,P<0.001)。盲和低视力人群中排在前4位的眼部疾病分别是白内障、眼外伤、不明原因眼底病、屈光不正。结论:宁夏回族自治区成人的盲及低视力患病率较高,其中白内障仍是宁夏地区防盲工作的重点。

A Novel Dynamic Polymer Synthesis via Chlorinated Solvent Quenched Depolymerization

Dynamic polymers with both physical interactions and dynamic covalent bonds exhibit superior performance,but achieving such dry polymers in an effi-cient manner remains a challenge.Herein,we report a novel organic solvent quenched polymer synthesis using the natural molecule thioctic acid(TA),which has both a dynamic disulfide bond and carboxylic acid.The effects of the solvent type and concentration along with reaction times on the proposed reaction were thoroughly explored for polymer synthesis.Solid-state proton nuclear magnetic resonance(1 H NMR)and first-principles simulations were carried out to investigate the reaction mechanism.They show that the chlorinated solvent can efficiently stabilize and mediate the depolymerization of poly(TA),which is more kinetically favorable upon lowering the temperature.Attributed to the numerous dynamic covalent disulfide bonds and noncovalent hydrogen bonds,the obtained poly(TA)shows high extensibility,self-healing,and reprocessable properties.It can also be employed as an efficient adhesive even on a Teflon surface and 3D printed using the fused deposition modeling technique.This new polymer synthesis approach of using organic solvents as catalysts along with the unique reaction mechanism provides a new pathway for efficient polymer synthesis,especially for multifunctional dynamic polymers.

Numerical study of a supercritical airfoil/wing with variable-camber technology

Variable-camber technology is considered an effective way to adaptively improve the aerodynamic performance of aircraft under various flight conditions.This paper studies the aerodynamic characteristics of the trailing-edge variable-camber technology by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD)and a drag decomposition method.Trailing-edge variable-camber technology can be simply realized by the continuous deflection of the flaps and ailerons of a wing.A supercritical airfoil is used to study the two-dimensional effect of variable-camber technology,and a wide-body airplane model is used to validate the three-dimensional improvement in the wing’s airfoil made by variable-camber technology.An optimization strategy for airfoil that incorporates variable-camber technology is proposed.The optimization results demonstrate that the proposed method can obtain better results than the traditional segregated shape optimization.

3D-printed cell-free PCL-MECM scaffold with biomimetic micro-structure and micro-environment to enhance in situ meniscus regeneration

Despite intensive effort was made to regenerate injured meniscus by cell-free strategies through recruiting endogenous stem/progenitor cells,meniscus regeneration remains a great challenge in clinic.In this study,we found decellularized meniscal extracellular matrix(MECM)preserved native meniscal collagen and glycosaminoglycans which could be a good endogenous regeneration guider for stem cells.Moreover,MECM significantly promoted meniscal fibrochondrocytes viability and proliferation,increased the expression of type II collagen and proteoglycans in vitro.Meanwhile,we designed 3D-printed polycaprolactone(PCL)scaffolds which mimic the circumferential and radial collagen orientation in native meniscus.Taken these two advantages together,a micro-structure and micro-environment dually biomimetic cell-free scaffold was manipulated.This cell-free PCL-MECM scaffold displayed superior biocompatibility and yielded favorable biomechanical capacities closely to native meniscus.Strikingly,neo-menisci were regenerated within PCL-MECM scaffolds which were transplanted into knee joints underwent medial meniscectomy in rabbits and sheep models.Histological staining confirmed neo-menisci showed meniscus-like heterogeneous staining.Mankin scores showed PCL-MECM scaffold could protect articular cartilage well,and knee X-ray examination revealed same results.Knee magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scanning also showed some neo-menisci in PCL-MECM scaffold group.In conclusion,PCL-MECM scaffold appears to optimize meniscus regeneration.This could represent a promising approach worthy of further investigation in preclinical applications.

Transport evidence of 3D topological nodal-line semimetal phase in ZrSiS

Topological nodal-line semimetal is a new emerging material, which is viewed as a three-dimensional （3D） analog of graphene with the conduction and valence bands crossing at Dirac nodes, resulting in a range of exotic transport properties. Herein, we report on the direct quantum transport evidence of the 3D topological nodal-line semimetal phase of ZrSiS with angular-dependent magnetoresistance （MR） and the combined de Hass-van Alphen （dHvA） and Shubnikov-de Hass （SdH） oscillations. Through fitting by a two-band model, the MR results demonstrate high topological nodal-line fermion densities of approximately 6 × 10^21 cm^-3 and a perfect electron/hole compensation ratio of 0.94, which is consis- tent with the semi-classical expression fitting of Hall conductance Gxy and the theoretical calculation. Both the SdH and dHvA oscillations provide clear evidence of 3D topological nodal-line semimetal characteristic.