Metastatic colon cancer treated using traditional Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Colon cancer(CC)is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is widely used in the treatment of various chronic diseases.CC easily metastasizes and results in high morbidity and mortality rates.CASE SUMMARY A 71-year-old man with a 12-year history of old myocardial infarction and a 7-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed with CC and underwent right hemicolectomy 1 year ago.Tumor biopsy revealed moderately poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.Subsequently,chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and paclitaxel was administered.Anastomosis recurrence and pelvic metastasis were noted 37 d later.The patient received eight 21-d cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and capecitabine after recurrence.However,the tumor persisted,and chemotherapy-related liver damage developed gradually.Thus,he was advised to take TCM for the recurrence and pelvic metastasis.The patient’s metastatic CC was cured after receiving TCM combined with long-term chemotherapy.CONCLUSION TCM may be an effective adjunct therapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic CC.

Full robot-assisted gastrectomy with intracorporeal robot-sewn anastomosis produces satisfying outcomes

AIM:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of full robotassisted gastrectomy with intracorporeal robot handsewn anastomosis in the treatment of gastric cancer.METHODS:From September 2011 to March 2013,110consecutive patients with gastric cancer at the authors’institution were enrolled for robotic gastrectomies.According to tumor location,total gastrectomy,distal or proximal subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy was fully performed by the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System.All construction,including Roux-en-Y jejunal limb,esophagojejunal,gastroduodenal and gastrojejunal anastomoses were fully carried out by the intracorporeal robot-sewn method.At the end of surgery,the specimen was removed through a 3-4 cm incision at the umbilicus trocar point.The details of the surgical technique are well illustrated.The benefits in terms of surgical and oncologic outcomes are well documented,as well as the failure rate and postoperative complications.RESULTS:From a total of 110 enrolled patients,radical gastrectomy could not be performed in 2 patients due to late stage disease;1 patient was converted to laparotomy because of uncontrollable hemorrhage,and1 obese patient was converted due to difficult exposure;2 patients underwent extra-corporeal anastomosis by minilaparotomy to ensure adequate tumor margin.Robot-sewn anastomoses were successfully performed for 12 proximal,38 distal and 54 total gastrectomies.The average surgical time was 272.52±53.91 min and the average amount of bleeding was 80.78±32.37 mL.The average number of harvested lymph nodes was 23.1±5.3.All specimens showed adequate surgical margin.With regard to tumor staging,26,32 and 46 patients were staged asⅠ,ⅡandⅢ,respectively.The average hospitalization time after surgery was 6.2 d.One patient experienced a duodenal stump anastomotic leak,which was mild and treated conservatively.One patient was readmitted for intra-abdominal infection and was treated conservatively.Jejunal afferent loop obstruction occurred in 1 patient,who underwent re-operation and recovered quickly.CONCLUSION:This technique is feasible and can produce satisfying postoperative outcomes.It is also convenience and reliable for anastomoses in gastrectomy.Full robotic hand-sewn anastomosis may be a minimally invasive technique for gastrectomy surgery.

Spatial-temporal Evolution Characteristics and Decoupling Analysis of Influencing Factors of China’s Aviation Carbon Emissions

The aviation industry has become one of the top ten greenhouse gas emission industries in the world. China’s aviation carbon emissions continue to increase, but the analysis of its influencing factors at the provincial level is still incomplete. This paper firstly uses Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology model(STIRPAT) model to analyze the time series evolution of China’s aviation carbon emissions from 2000 to 2019. Secondly, it uses the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index(LDMI) model to analyze the influencing characteristics and degree of four factors on China’s aviation carbon emissions, which are air transportation revenue, aviation route structure, air transportation intensity and aviation energy intensity. Thirdly, it determines the various factors’ influencing direction and evolution trend of 31 provinces’ aviation carbon emissions in China(not including Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan of China due to incomplete data). Finally, it derives the decoupling effort model and analyzes the decoupling relationship and decoupling effort degree between air carbon emissions and air transportation revenue in different provinces. The study found that from 2000 to2019, China’s total aviation carbon emissions continued to grow, while the growth rate of aviation carbon emissions showed a fluctuating downward trend. Air transportation revenue and aviation route structure promote the growth of total aviation carbon emissions, and air transportation intensity and aviation energy intensity have a restraining effect on the growth of total aviation carbon emissions. The scope of negative driving effect of air transportation revenue and air transportation intensity on total aviation carbon emissions in various provinces has increased. While the scope of positive driving influence of aviation route structure on total aviation carbon emissions of various provinces has increased, aviation energy intensity mainly has negative driving influence on total aviation carbon emissions of each province. Overall, the emission reduction trend in the areas to the west and north of the Qinling-Huaihe River Line is obvious. The decoupling mode between air carbon emissions and air transportation revenue in 31 provinces is mainly expansion negative decoupling.The air transportation intensity effect shows strong decoupling efforts in most provinces, the decoupling effort of aviation route structure effect and aviation energy intensity effect is not prominent.

Community structure and carbon and nitrogen storage of sagebrush desert under grazing exclusion in Northwest China

Overgrazing is regarded as one of the key factors of vegetation and soil degradation in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China.Grazing exclusion(GE)is one of the most common pathways used to restore degraded grasslands and to improve their ecosystem services.Nevertheless,there are still significant controversies concerning GE’s effects on grassland diversity as well as carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)storage.It remains poorly understood in the arid desert regions,whilst being essential for the sustainable use of grassland resources.To assess the effects of GE on community characteristics and C and N storage of desert plant community in the arid desert regions,we investigated the community structure and plant biomass,as well as C and N storage of plants and soil(0-100 cm depth)in short-term GE(three years)plots and adjacent long-term freely grazing(FG)plots in the areas of sagebrush desert in Northwest China,which are important both for spring-autumn seasonal pasture and for ecological conservation.Our findings indicated that GE was beneficial to the average height,coverage and aboveground biomass(including stems,leaves and inflorescences,and litter)of desert plant community,to the species richness and importance values of subshrubs and perennial herbs,and to the biomass C and N storage of aboveground parts(P<0.05).However,GE was not beneficial to the importance values of annual herbs,root/shoot ratio and total N concentration in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers(P<0.05).Additionally,the plant density,belowground biomass,and soil organic C concentration and C storage in the 0-100 cm soil layer could not be significantly changed by short-term GE(three years).The results suggest that,although GE was not beneficial for C sequestration in the sagebrush desert ecosystem,it is an effective strategy for improving productivity,diversity,and C and N storage of plants.As a result,GE can be used to rehabilitate degraded grasslands in the arid desert regions of Northwest China.

Synthesis of flowerlike nickel particles and their microwave absorbing properties

Two kinds of nickel particles with flower-like struc~＇es assembled with a number of nano-flakes were synthesized and the relationship of their morphology and microwave absorbing properties was studied. The electromagnetic parameters of these flower-like Ni were measured with vector network analyzer at 2-18 GHz frequency and the reflection losses （RL） with different sample thicknesses were calculated. The results indicate that the flower-like nickel-wax composites with the sample thickness less than 2 mm show excellent absorbing ability. This result is expected to play a guiding role in the preparation of the highly efficient absorber.

Research on Strategy Marine Noise Map Based on i4Ocean Platform： Constructing Flow and Key Approach

Noise level in a marine environment has raised extensive concern in the scientific community.The research is carried out on i4 Ocean platform following the process of ocean noise model integrating,noise data extracting,processing,visualizing,and interpreting,ocean noise map constructing and publishing.For the convenience of numerical computation,based on the characteristics of ocean noise field,a hybrid model related to spatial locations is suggested in the propagation model.The normal mode method K/I model is used for far field and ray method CANARY model is used for near field.Visualizing marine ambient noise data is critical to understanding and predicting marine noise for relevant decision making.Marine noise map can be constructed on virtual ocean scene.The systematic marine noise visualization framework includes preprocessing,coordinate transformation interpolation,and rendering.The simulation of ocean noise depends on realistic surface.Then the dynamic water simulation gird was improved with GPU fusion to achieve seamless combination with the visualization result of ocean noise.At the same time,the profile and spherical visualization include space,and time dimensionality were also provided for the vertical field characteristics of ocean ambient noise.Finally,marine noise map can be published with grid pre-processing and multistage cache technology to better serve the public.

Evolution of AuSnx intermetallic compounds in laser reflowed micro-solder joints

To investigate the effect of Au thickness on evolution of AuSnx IMCs, pads with 0. 1, 0. 5 and 4. 0 μm thickness of Au surface finish were utilized. Laser reflowed solder joints were aged in 125℃ isothermal ovens. Results indicated that little IMC formed at the interface of solder and pad with 0. 1 μm thickness of Au. Even in condition of 744 hours aging, thickness of lMCs did not increase obviously. As for the joints with 0. 5 μm thickness of Au, most of AuSn4 IMCs stayed at the inteornce and were in needle-like or dendritic morphology. With the increase of aging time, AuSn4 IMCs beeame flat and changed to a continuous layer. In the joints with 4. 0 μm thickness of Au on pads, AuSn, AuSn2, AuSn4 IMCs and Au2Sn phase formed at the interface. As aging time was increased, more Sn rich IMCs formed at the interface, and evolved to AuSn4 IMCs in condition of long time aging. Thickness of AuSn4 IMCs reached about 30μm.

The Research Progress of Long Noncoding RNAs in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a leader of the degree of more than 200 nucleotides, almost do not have the function of protein coding endogenous RNA molecules. Recent studies show that, lncRNA is not encoded protein, but it has a wide range of biological functions, and lncRNA in human diseases, especially in oncology, more and more attention has been paid to its role. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor of the head and neck in South China, which poses a serious threat to people’s health and life. Studies found that lncRNA is widely involved in the invasion, metastasis and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this article, we will review the research progress of lncRNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Progress in Competing Endogenous RNA and Cancer

The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis was introduced as a previously unrecognized gene regulatory layer. This is a recently discovered hypothesis about how mRNAs, pseudogene transcripts, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate post-transcriptional expression by sharing common microRNA response elements (MREs) to compete for the binding of microRNAs (miRNAs) and inhibiting normal miRNA targeting activity on mRNA. Previous study have found that ceRNAs are key regulators in many biological processes such as cell cycle, tumor initiation and progression and found to be involved in several diseases, especially in tumor. Tumor is a kind of serious disease with high death rate. Recently, there is no effective therapy for Tumor. The mechanism of many tumors has not yet been fully elucidated. It has been proved that a number of ceRNAs identified as aberrantly expressed during tumor development. It is vital to understand how ceRNA works in tumor progression and to find a new way to cure those corresponding disease. This review introduces the mechanism of ceRNA hypothesis, focus on the history of the ceRNA hypothesis, the important pathophysiological roles of ceRNAs in tumor and?the latest findings about how ceRNA works in gastric cancer, lung cancer, endometrial cancer,?breast cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma.

Atomistic simulation of topaz:Structure,defect,and vibrational properties

The clay force field（CLAYFF） was supplemented by fluorine potential parameters deriving from experimental structures and used to model various topazes. The calculated cell parameters agree well with the observed structures. The quasi-linear correlation of the b lattice parameter to different F/OH ratios calculated by changing fluorine contents in OH-topaz supports that the F content can be measured by an optical method. Hydrogen bond calculations reveal that the hydrogen bond interaction to H1 is stronger than that to H2, and the more fluorine in the structure, the stronger the hydrogen bond interaction of hydroxyl hydrogen. Defect calculations provide the formation energies of all common defects and can be used to judge the ease of formation of them. The calculated vibrational frequencies are fairly consistent with available experimental results, and the 1080-cm^-1frequency often occurring in natural OH-topaz samples can be attributed to Si–F stretching because of the F substitution to OH and the Al–Si exchange.

Mechanical Properties of Phenolic-Resin Composites Reinforced with CF/BF Interlayer Hybrid Fibers

Phenolic-resin composites reinforced with carbon fiber（CF） and basalt fiber（BF） interlayer hybrid fibers plain fabric were fabricated.The tensile strength,compressive strength and interlaminar shear strength of the prepared composites were studied.The results indicated that hybrid fibers reinforced composites possessed the advantages of both CF and BF.When resin content was 35% by volume fraction,the comprehensive mechanical performance of BF/CF reinforced phenolic resin composites reached the optimal values with the warp and weft direction tensile strength,compressive strength and interlayer shear strength being 252 MPa and 487 MPa,105 MPa and 129 MPa,21 MPa and 20 MPa,respectively.The scanning electron microscope（SEM） observations showed that the BF/CF hybrid fibers reinforced composites had better interfacial adhesion.

Effects of Fe doping on ac susceptibility of Pr_(0.75)Na_(0.25)MnO_3

Ac susceptibility at low temperatures of Pro.75Nao.25MnO3-xFexO3 （0 ≤ x ≤0.30） is investigated. The peak value of the real component of ac susceptibility X＇ at the freezing temperature Tf is suppressed with the increasing frequency. The peak value of X＇ shows a linear relation between Tf and the logarithm of the frequency ω. The normalized slope P = △Tf/Tf△lgco, which is much lower than canonical insulating spin glass systems in which 0.06 ≤ P ≤ 0,08. The peak value of the imaginary component of the ac susceptibility X＂ at Tf for the x= 0, 0.02, 0.30 samples increases with increasing frequency, suggesting a cluster glass ground state with a coexistence of charge-ordered phase and correlated ferromagnetic clusters in spin glass matrix. The peak value ofx＂ at Tf for the x = 0.10 sample decreases with increasing frequency, suggesting a phase separation ground state. The peak value of X＂at Tf for the x = 0.05 sample decreases with increasing frequency for ω ≤52 Hz and increases subsequently till 701 Hz, and then decreases with further increasing frequency for ω ≥ 1501 Hz. This complex behaviour is ascribed to the competition between the effects of large and little ferromagnetic clusters in the sample. The ground state of x = 0.05 sample is a transition state from cluster glass to phase separation.

Emerging roles of lncRNAs in the post-transcriptional regulation in cancer

Accumulating evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)can play a pivotal role in regulation of diverse cellular processes.In particular,lncRNAs can serve as master gene regulators at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels,leading to tumorigenesis.In this review,we discuss latest developments in lncRNA-meditated gene expression at the post-transcriptional level,including gene splicing,mRNA stability,protein stability and nuclear trafficking.

The functions of N6-methyladenosine modification in lncRNAs

Increasing evidence indicates that mRNAs are often subject to posttranscriptional modifications.Among them,N6-methyladenosine(m6A),which has been shown to play key roles in RNA splicing,stability,nuclear export,and translation,is the most abundant modification of RNA.Extensive studies of m6A modification of mRNAs have been carried out,while little is known about m6A modification of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs).Recently,several studies reported m6A modification of lncRNAs.In this review,we focus on these m6A-modified lncRNAs and discuss possible functions of m6A modification.

M6A modification of circNSUN2 promotes colorectal liver metastasis

Circular RNAs(circRNAs)are playing emerging role in the pathogenesis of cancers,but the mechanisms still unknown.In the recent issue of the Nature Communications,Chen and colleagues have demonstrated that YTHDC1 facilitates N6-methyladenosine modified circNSUN2 cytoplasmic export and the circNSUN2/IGF2BP2/HMGA2 complex stabilizes HMGA2 to promote colorectal liver metastasis.These discoveries not only expand our understanding of circRNAs biology in tumor,but also demonstrate that m6A modification plays a key role for circRNAs in RNA metabolism.Therefore,these findings indicate that circRNAs may be a new approach for therapeutic target of cancers.

Controlled/living ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone catalyzed by phosphoric acid

The bulk ring-opening polymerization （ROP） of ε-caprolactone （ε-CL） by various phosphoric acids using phenylmethanol as the initiator was conducted. 1, 1＇-bi-2-Naphthol （BINOL）-based phosphoric acid was found to be an effective organocatalyst for ROP leading to polyesters at 90℃. The overall conversion to poly（ε-caprolactone） was more than 96% and poly（ε-caprolactone） with Mw of 8400 and polydispersity index of 1.13 was obtained. IH NMR spectra of oligomers demonstrated the quantitative incorporation of the protic initiator in the polymer chains and showed that transesterification reactions did not occur to a significant extent. The controlled polymerization was indicated by the linear relationships between the number-average molar mass and monomer conversion or monomer-to-initiator ratio. In addition, the present protocol provided an easy-to-handle, inexpensive and environmentally benign entry for the synthesis of biodegradable materials as well as polyesters for biomedical applications.