A prognostic four-gene signature and a therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma:Construction and analysis of a circRNA-mediated competing endogenous RNA network

Background:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has a poor long-term prognosis.The competition of circular RNAs(circRNAs)with endogenous RNA is a novel tool for predicting HCC prognosis.Based on the alterations of circRNA regulatory networks,the analysis of gene modules related to HCC is feasible.Methods:Multiple expression datasets and RNA element targeting prediction tools were used to construct a circRNA-microRNA-mRNA network in HCC.Gene function,pathway,and protein interaction analyses were performed for the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in this regulatory network.In the proteinprotein interaction network,hub genes were identified and subjected to regression analysis,producing an optimized four-gene signature for prognostic risk stratification in HCC patients.Anti-HCC drugs were excavated by assessing the DEGs between the low-and high-risk groups.A circRNA-microRNA-hub gene subnetwork was constructed,in which three hallmark genes,KIF4A,CCNA2,and PBK,were subjected to functional enrichment analysis.Results:A four-gene signature(KIF4A,CCNA2,PBK,and ZWINT)that effectively estimated the overall survival and aided in prognostic risk assessment in the The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)cohort and International Cancer Genome Consortium(ICGC)cohort was developed.CDK inhibitors,PI3K inhibitors,HDAC inhibitors,and EGFR inhibitors were predicted as four potential mechanisms of drug action(MOA)in high-risk HCC patients.Subsequent analysis has revealed that PBK,CCNA2,and KIF4A play a crucial role in regulating the tumor microenvironment by promoting immune cell invasion,regulating microsatellite instability(MSI),and exerting an impact on HCC progression.Conclusions:The present study highlights the role of the circRNA-related regulatory network,identifies a four-gene prognostic signature and biomarkers,and further identifies novel therapy for HCC.

Effects of cooling rates on microporosity in DC casting Al-Li alloy

During the direct chill(DC)casting process,primary cooling from the mold and bottom block,and secondary cooling from the waterjets produce a concave solid shell.The depth of this liquid pocket and mushy zone not only depends on the solidification range of the alloy but also the boundary conditions such as cooling rates.Al-Li alloys solidify in a long solidification range increasing the susceptibility of porosity nucleation in the semi-solid region.In this study,the effects of cooling rate on the porosity formation were quantified for the large ingot casting using X-ray computed tomography(XCT).By characterizing pore size distributions at four different cooling conditions,the correlation between the mechanical properties at both room and high temperatures and the microstructure features was identified.The constitutive equations were constructed.It is found that increasing the cooling rate reduces the grain size,increases the number density of micropores,and minimizes the number of large pores,thereby improving the mechanical performance.Therefore,long mushy zones and deep liquid pockets in Al-Li alloys can be effectively controlled by controlling the boundary conditions of the DC casting solidification process,thereby obtaining castings with excellent mechanical properties.

Does Liuzijue Qigong affect anxiety in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,even during the COVID-19 outbreak?a randomized,controlled trial

Background:Anxiety is a common comorbidity associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),but no well-recognized method can provide effective relief.Liuzijue Qigong(LQG)is a traditional Chinese fitness method,based on breath pronunciation.This study aimed to examine the efficacy of LQG to relieve anxiety in COPD patients and to explore the factors that influence anxiety,including whether LQG is effective during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)outbreak.Methods:We conducted an open-label,randomized,controlled,clinical trial.A total of 60 patients with stable COPD were randomly assigned to two groups.Both groups were given routine medical treatment,and the patients in the pulmonary rehabilitation(PR)group were given an extra intervention in the form of LQG,performed for 30 minutes each day for 12 weeks.Data collection was performed at baseline and 12 weeks(during the COVID-19 epidemic).The primary outcomes were the self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)scores,and the secondary outcomes were relevant information during the epidemic and analyses of the related factors that influenced SAS scores during the COVID-19 outbreak.Results:Compared with baseline,patients in both groups demonstrated varying degrees of improvements in their SAS scores(all P<0.01).An analysis of covariance,adjusted for baseline scores,indicated that the SAS scores improved more dramatically in the PR group than in the control group(F=9.539,P=0.004).During the outbreak,the SAS scores for sleep disorder were higher than all other factors,reaching 1.38±0.67,and the scores for“I can breathe in and out easily”for the PR group were lower than the scores for the control group(Z=−2.108,P=0.035).Significant differences were identified between the two groups for the categories“How much has the outbreak affected your life”,“Do you practice LQG during the epidemic”and“Do you practice other exercises during the epidemic”(all P<0.05).Compared with current reports,LQG had a relatively high adherence rate(80.95%).A multiple linear regression analysis revealed multiple predictors for SAS scores during the outbreak:group(b=−3.907,t=−3.824,P<0.001),COPD assessment test score(b=0.309,t=2.876,P=0.006),SAS score at baseline(b=0.189,t=3.074,P=0.004),and living in a village(b=4.886,t=2.085,P=0.043).Conclusion:LQG could effectively reduce the risks of anxiety among COPD patients,even during the COVID-19 outbreak.For those COPD patients with high COPD assessment test and high baseline SAS scores or who live in villages,we should reinforce the management and intervention of psychological factors during the epidemic.

Advances in the application of artificial intelligence in solid tumor imaging

Early diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial in reducing cancer-related mortality.Artificial intelligence(AI)has greatly relieved clinical workloads and changed the current medical workflows.We searched for recent studies,reports and reviews referring to AI and solid tumors;many reviews have summarized AI applications in the diagnosis and treatment of a single tumor type.We herein systematically review the advances of AI application in multiple solid tumors including esophagus,stomach,intestine,breast,thyroid,prostate,lung,liver,cervix,pancreas and kidney with a specific focus on the continual improvement on model performance in imaging practice.

Dual Photo/Thermo-Responsive Polypeptoids

A series of polypeptoids with dual photo/thermo-responsiveness were prepared by incorporating both azobenzene(Azo)group and oligo(ethylene glycol)(OEG)segment into the side chains.Firstly,the N-substituted-N-carboxyanhydride(NNCA)monomers with different Azo and OEG groups were synthesized,and then a single NNCA ring-openning polymerization was performed to afford dual-responsive polypeptoids without any post-polymerization modification.The ultra-violet/visible(UV/Vis)photo-responsive behaviors of the polypeptoids were achieved by cis-trans photoisomerization of the Azo group and confirmed by both ^(1)H-NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy.The thermo-responsive behaviors were realized by both OEG segment and Azo group and confirmed by UV/Vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering.This work demonstrated the synthetic pathway for dual responsive polypeptoids using NNCA monomers with two responsive groups and revealed the potential of polypeptoids as smart materials that could respond to different environmental stimuli.

Habitat fragmentation alters predator satiation of acorns

Aims Acorn weevils(Curculio spp.),endoparasitic granivorous insects,impede recruitment of fagaceous trees,and in turn affect community structure and ecosystem functioning.Previous studies have made considerable progress in elucidating local factors that contribute to seed predation by acorn weevils,but it is still not clear how habitat configurations interplay with local factors in influencing Curculio predation.In this study,we assessed the roles of crop size,landscape configurations(area and isolation)and their interactions on the predation rate of seeds by acorn weevils.Methods We studied acorn weevils feeding on the seeds of Castanopsis sclerophylla(Fagaceae)on two peninsulas and nine islands with varying areas and isolation levels in the Thousand-island Lake in Chun’an County,Zhejiang Province of China.Overall,crop size was estimated for 130 trees and predation status was assessed for 26207 seeds from these trees during two years.Generalized linear mixed models were performed to clarify how island area and isolation interplayed with crop size to determine predation rate on a single tree.Important Findings A negative relationship was detected between crop size and seed predation rate,indicating predator satiation at the tree level.This suggests that acorn weevils tend to stay sedentary once they have arrived at a suitable habitat.Habitat fragmentation had significant effects on seed predation such that predation rate was higher on larger,less isolated islands.Furthermore,the relationship between crop size and predation rate was significantly changed by both island area and isolation.This finding highlighted that the effects of habitat isolation might be overlooked relative to those of habitat loss.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Extremely High-Risk Patients

To the Editor： High-risk percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） remains a viable revascularization strategy for patients who refuse or are not suitable for surgery, Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation （ECMO） can direct blood flow from the body, oxygenate it, and then return it, thus completely or partially replacing the function of the heart and lungs and increasing the likelihood of functional recovery. Selective PCI supported by ECMO is a viable alternative for patients who are at very high risk for coronary artery bypass gratting （CABG）. A previous study found that ECMO-assistcd PCI for patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by profound cardiogenic shock might have improved 30-day and l-year survival rates, and we believe that ECMO is a viable mode of hemodynamic support in high-risk cases.