Latest insights into the global epidemiological features,screening,early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

As a highly invasive carcinoma,esophageal cancer(EC)was the eighth most prevalent malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020.Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the major histological subtype of EC,and its incidence and mortality rates are decreasing globally.Due to the lack of specific early symptoms,ESCC patients are usually diagnosed with advanced-stage disease with a poor prognosis,and the incidence and mortality rates are still high in many countries,especially in China.Therefore,enormous challenges still exist in the management of ESCC,and novel strategies are urgently needed to further decrease the incidence and mortality rates of ESCC.Although the key molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated,certain promising biomarkers are being investigated to facilitate clinical decision-making.With the advent and advancement of highthroughput technologies,such as genomics,proteomics and metabolomics,valuable biomarkers with high sensitivity,specificity and stability could be identified for ESCC.Herein,we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of ESCC in different regions of the world,especially in China,and focused on novel molecular biomarkers associated with ESCC screening,early diagnosis and prognosis prediction.

Interactions between the fluid and an isolation tool in a pipe:laboratory experiments and numerical simulation

A remote-control tether-less isolation tool is a mechanical device that is normally used in pipelines to block the flow at a given position by transforming a blocking module. In this study, the interactions between the fluid and the plug module of the isolation tool were investigated. Simulations of the plug process and particle image velocimetry measurements were performed to study the flow characteristics. Numerical solutions for the continuity, momentum, and energy equations were obtained by using commercial software based on finite-volume techniques. Box–Behnken design was applied, and response surface methodology（RSM）-based CFD simulation analysis was conducted. The dynamic model in the plug process was built by RSM and used to evaluate the influences of the main mechanical parameters on the pressure during the plug process. The diameter of the isolation tool and the diameter of the plug module have strong influences on the process, and the length of the isolation tool has only a little influence on the plug process.

Risk management for mine closure: A cloud model and hybrid semi-quantitative decision method

Mine closure is associated with many negative impacts on society and the environment.If these effects are not rationally addressed,they would pose risks of mine closure.Thus,a risk management method is needed to mitigate these adverse impacts and address mine-closure issues.An integral framework for mine-closure risk management that includes risk assessment and risk treatment was proposed.Given the fuzziness and randomness of the transformation between qualitative and quantitative knowledge in the risk assessment process,a novel risk assessment method based on the cloud model was presented,which fully considers the uncertainty in risks themselves and in the reasoning process.Closed mine reutilization is an effective risk treatment option in response to the identified high risks,but it requires selecting optimal reutilization strategies for the successful implementation of the reuse plan.To this end,a hybrid semi-quantitative decision method is proposed to optimize decision-making.The results of a case study showed that this risk management methodology can help budget planning for risk treatment and provide an instructional framework to effectively reduce the negative effects of closed mines.

Home-based spirometry in the self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

It is estimated that more than 3 million people die from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)annually.Acute exacerbation of COPD(AECOPD)leads to an irreversible decline of pulmonary function,an increase of emergency visits,hospitalization and length of stay in hospital,and an increase of the mortality.However,many exacerbations are not reported to healthcare professionals for therapy and yet these events,although often in short durations,have a significant impact on health status.111 Early detection and intervention of AECOPD as well as reducing of unreported episodes of AECOPD will potentially improve the prognosis.

程序性细胞死亡配体1在结直肠癌肝脏寡转移灶的表达及其预后价值

背景:程序性细胞死亡配体1(PD-L1)在结直肠癌肝脏寡转移灶(CLO)表达的临床价值尚不明确。本研究旨在检测CLO微环境中PDL1的表达,并分析其与患者预后的关系。方法:收集1999年6月至2016年12月之间126例行根治性肝切除术的CLO患者的肝转移瘤标本。免疫组织化学法检测PD-L1在石蜡包埋标本中的表达水平。采用Kaplan-Meier法和Log-rank检验分析总体生存(OS)和无复发生存(RFS)。结果:PD-L1主要在肝转移灶的间质中表达。PD-L1高表达患者的临床风险更高(临床风险评分2–4分者比例:67.7%vs 40.4%,P=0.004)。中位随访58个月,PD-L1高表达患者3年OS(65.5%vs 92.7%,P=0.001)和3年RFS(34.7%vs 83.8%,P<0.001)均显著低于PD-L1低表达者。多因素Cox分析显示,PD-L1高表达(HR=3.581;95%CI 2.301–9.972,P=0.015),CRS 2–4分(HR=6.960,95%CI 1.135–42.689,P=0.036)及术前CA19-9增高(HR=2.843,95%CI 1.229–6.576,P=0.015)是OS的独立危险因素。PD-L1高表达(HR=4.815,95%CI 2.139–10.837,P<0.001)和原发灶淋巴结转移(HR=2.115,95%CI 1.041–4.297,P=0.038)是RFS的独立危险因素。结论:本研究发现PD-L1在CLO患者的肝转移灶间质中普遍表达,其高表达提示预后不良。