Dynamic Hybrid Module-Driven NK Cell Stimulation and Release for Tumor Immunotherapy.

Natural killer (NK) cells have become a powerful candidate for adoptive tumor immunotherapy, while their therapeutic efficacy in solid tumors remains unsatisfactory. Here, we developed a hybrid module with an injectable hydrogel and hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanobelts for the controlled delivery of NK cells to enhance the therapy of solid tumors. Surface-functionalized HAp nanobelts modified with agonistic antibodies against NKG2D and 4-1BB and cytokines IL-2 and IL-21 support survival and dynamic activation. Thus, the HAp-modified chitosan (CS) thermos-sensitive hydrogel not only improved the retention of NK cells for more than 20 days in vivo but also increased NK cell function by more than one-fold. The unique architecture of this biomaterial complex protects NK cells from the hostile tumor environment and improves antitumor efficacy. The generation of a transient inflammatory niche for NK cells through a biocompatible hydrogel reservoir may be a conversion pathway to prevent cancer recurrence of resectable tumors.

Boosting the Cycle Performance of Iron Trifluoride Based Solid State Batteries at Elevated Temperatures by Engineering the Cathode Solid Electrolyte Interface.

Iron trifluoride (FeF3) is attracting tremendous interest due to its lower cost and the possibility to enable higher energy density in lithium-ion batteries. However, its cycle performance deteriorates rapidly in less than 50 cycles at elevated temperatures due to cracking of the unstable cathode solid electrolyte interface (CEI) followed by active materials dissolution in liquid electrolyte. Herein, by engineering the salt composition, the Fe3O4-type CEI with the doping of boron (B) atoms in a polymer electrolyte at 60 °C is successfully stabilized. The cycle life of the well-designed FeF3-based composite cathode exceeds an unprecedented 1000 cycles and utilizes up to 70% of its theoretical capacities. Advanced electron microscopy combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the B in lithium salt migrates into the cathode and promotes the formation of an elastic and mechanic robust boron-contained CEI (BOR-CEI) during cycling, by which the durability of the CEI to frequent cyclic large volume changes is significantly enhanced. To this end, the notorious active materials dissolution is largely prohibited, resulting in a superior cycle life. The results suggest that engineering the CEI such as tuning its composition is a viable approach to achieving FeF3 cathode-based batteries with enhanced performance.

Effects of Wuzhi Capsule on Whole-Blood Tacrolimus Concentration Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Wuzhi Capsule (WZC) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb widely used to treat drug-induced hepatitis or liver dysfunction and is usually prescribed in China to increase tacrolimus concentration. Several studies with small sample sizes have shown that WZC can increase tacrolimus concentration levels in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of WZC on whole-blood tacrolimus concentration levels and safety. METHODS: We searched 7 databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OSs) comparing whole-blood tacrolimus concentration levels between WZC and non-WZC treatments. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.3. This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines. RESULTS: Eleven studies involving 6 RCTs and 5 OSs were included. The meta-analysis indicated that whole-blood tacrolimus concentration levels in the WZC group was significantly higher than that of the non-WZC group [weighted mean difference = 1.38, 95% CI (confidence interval), 1.21-1.56, P < 0.001], and similar results were shown in all the subgroups of follow-up time, different primary disease, and different WZC doses. In the self-control OSs, the whole-blood tacrolimus concentration levels in the WZC group was significantly higher than the non-WZC group (weighted mean difference = 1.17, 95% CI, 0.71-1.64, P < 0.001). WZC was generally well tolerated and there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: WZC can increase whole-blood tacrolimus concentration levels. This may be an economical and practical treatment choice for patients, especially those with poor oral tacrolimus absorption capabilities. Nevertheless, RCTs and OSs with large sample sizes and high quality are needed in the future to confirm these positive results.

Comparison of anaesthesia-related outcomes in patients monitored by newly recruited nurse anaesthetists and anaesthesiologists: An observational study.

AIMS: To compare anaesthesia-related outcomes between patients monitored by newly recruited nurse anaesthetists and those monitored by newly recruited anaesthesiologists. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study that collected demographic information on newly recruited nurse anaesthetists and anaesthesiologists between 2017 and 2022 and recorded information on patients within 6 months of monitoring. Postoperative pain, emergency agitation, nausea, and vomiting were designated anaesthesia-related outcomes. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for covariates. The study adhered to the STROBE guidelines. RESULTS: The study's statistical analysis included 4483 patients monitored by 22 newly recruited nurse anaesthetists and 4959 patients monitored by 23 newly recruited anaesthesiologists. Compared with patients monitored by newly trained anaesthesiologists, the patients monitored by nurse anaesthetists were younger (42.07 ± 20.00 vs. 47.39 ± 18.45 years, p < 0.001) and had a lower body mass index (23.56 ± 4.46 vs. 24.19 ± 4.25, p < 0.001). Patients monitored by anaesthesiologists had a greater proportion of women (61.62% vs. 59.25%, p < 0.001), a high proportion of ASA III and ASA IV (17.1% vs. 8.88%, p < 0.001), and a longer mean surgery duration (78.65 ± 59.01 vs. 70.70 ± 60.65 min, p < 0.001). After propensity score matching was used to adjust for covariates, no statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of postoperative pain, emergency agitation, or postoperative nausea and vomiting between the two groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nurse anaesthetists monitoring alone during anaesthesia maintenance is feasible and safe. The two groups had no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative pain, emergency agitation, or postoperative nausea and vomiting. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The shortage of anaesthesiologists leads to heavy work burden and high incidence of occupational burnout among anaesthesiologists. The study found that it was safe for nurse anaesthetists to perform anaesthetic monitoring alone in the operating room under the supervision of the attending anaesthesiologist and did reduce the burden of anaesthesiologists' work. The results of the current study contribute to the expansion of occupational categories for nurse anaesthetists in countries where anaesthesiologists are in short supply. It provides new ideas for hospital administrators and policy-makers to formulate medical and nursing service policies.

Changes in intestinal morphology, number of mucus-producing cells and expression of coronavirus receptors APN, DPP4, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in pigs with aging.

Porcine enteric viral infections cause high morbidity and mortality in young piglets (<3 weeks). Later, these rates decrease with age. This age-dependent infectivity remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the changes in intestinal morphology, number of mucus-producing cells and expression level of coronavirus receptors in three age groups of pigs. Villus height and crypt depth increased with age from 3 days to 3 months in duodenum and ileum but not in mid-jejunum, where the villus height decreased from 580 µm at 3 days to 430 µm at 3 months. Enterocyte length-to-width ratio increased from 3 days to 3 months in all intestinal regions. The number of mucus-producing cells increased with age in the intestinal villi and crypts. The Brunner's glands of the duodenum contained the highest concentration of mucus-producing cells. The expression of coronavirus receptor APN was highest in the small intestinal villi at all ages. DPP4 expression slightly decreased over time in jejunum and ileum; it was highest in the ileal villi of 3-day-old piglets (70.2% of cells). ACE2 and TMPRSS2 positive cells increased with age in jejunal and ileal crypts and were particularly dominant in the ileal crypts (> 45% of cells). Except for the expression of DPP4 in the jejunum and ileum of young pigs, the expression pattern of the selected coronavirus receptors was very different and not correlated with the age-dependent susceptibility to viral infections. In contrast, the number of mucus-producing cells increased over time and may play an essential role in protecting enteric mucosae against intestinal viruses.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes shuttling miR-150-5p alleviates mechanical allodynia in rats by targeting NOTCH2 in microglia.

BACKGROUND: This study probes into the function and mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived exosomes loaded with miR-150-5p in mechanical allodynia. METHODS: BMSCs were infected with miR-150-5p inhibition lentiviruses to obtain exosomes with low miR-150-5p expression. A L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model was established in rats where exosomes, NOTCH2 overexpression/inhibition plasmids, or microglial cells were intrathecally administered. Hind paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) of rats were measured. TUNEL staining was used to measure the apoptotic rate in rat spinal dorsal horn (SDH), ELISA to evaluate pro-inflammatory factor levels, and RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry to detect miR-150-5p and NOTCH2 expression. Immunofluorescence was used for localizing exosomes and NOTCH2 and detecting the expression of OX42, a maker for microglia. Dual luciferase reporter and RNA pull down assays were performed to validate the putative binding between miR-150-5p and NOTCH2. RESULTS: NOTCH2 expressed at a high level and miR-150-5p was downregulated in SDH of SNL rats. Exosomes injected were localized in rat SDH. BMSC-exosomes or NOTCH2 downregulation increased PWT and PWL of SNL rats and reduced apoptosis and inflammation in SDH. In contrast, NOTCH2 overexpression aggravated mechanical allodynia and SDH injury. Moreover, inhibiting miR-150-5p in BMSC-exosomes offset the therapeutic effects of BMSC-exosomes. Microglia activation induced mechanical allodynia in wild rats, while intrathecal injection of microglial cells incubated with BMSC-exosomes showed alleviated mechanical allodynia in SNL rats. NOTCH2 was targeted by miR-150-5p. CONCLUSION: BMSC-derived exosomal miR-150-5p alleviates mechanical allodynia by targeting NOTCH2 in microglial cells.

Electrolyte melt infiltration for scalable manufacturing of inorganic all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries.

All-solid-state lithium (Li) metal and lithium-ion batteries (ASSLBs) with inorganic solid-state electrolytes offer improved safety for electric vehicles and other applications. However, current inorganic ASSLB manufacturing technology suffers from high cost, excessive amounts of solid-state electrolyte and conductive additives, and low attainable volumetric energy density. Such a fabrication method involves separate fabrications of sintered ceramic solid-state electrolyte membranes and ASSLB electrodes, which are then carefully stacked and sintered together in a precisely controlled environment. Here we report a disruptive manufacturing technology that offers reduced manufacturing costs and improved volumetric energy density in all solid cells. Our approach mimics the low-cost fabrication of commercial Li-ion cells with liquid electrolytes, except that we utilize solid-state electrolytes with low melting points that are infiltrated into dense, thermally stable electrodes at moderately elevated temperatures (~300 °C or below) in a liquid state, and which then solidify during cooling. Nearly the same commercial equipment could be used for electrode and cell manufacturing, which substantially reduces a barrier for industry adoption. This energy-efficient method was used to fabricate inorganic ASSLBs with LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2 cathodes and both Li4Ti5O12 and graphite anodes. The promising performance characteristics of such cells open new opportunities for the accelerated adoption of ASSLBs for safer electric transportation.

Prognostic and clinicopathologic significance of circZFR in multiple human cancers.

BACKGROUND: Abnormally expressed in diverse cancers, circZFR has been correlated with clinical outcomes of cancer patients. Aim of this meta-analysis was to elucidate the prognostic role of circZFR in multiple human malignancies. METHODS: Literature retrieval was conducted by systematically searching on Pubmed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to December 2nd, 2021. Hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to evaluate the association between circZFR expression and overall survival (OS). The reliability of the pooled results was assessed through sensitivity analysis and the publication bias was measured by Begg's and Egger's test. RESULTS: A total of seventeen studies comprising 1098 Chinese patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. Results demonstrated that high circZFR expression was correlated with an unfavorable OS (HR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.74, 2.64). High circZFR expression predicted larger tumor size (OR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.52, 5.12), advanced clinical stage (OR = 3.38, 95% CI 1.49, 7.65), tendentiousness of lymph node metastasis (LNM) (OR = 3.08, 95% CI 2.01, 4.71), and malignant grade (OR = 3.18, 95% CI 1.09, 9.30), but not related to age, gender, and distant metastasis (DM). CONCLUSIONS: High circZFR expression was associated with unfavorable OS and clinicopathologic parameters including tumor size, clinical stage, LNM, and histology grade, implicating a promising prognostic factor in cancers.

Functional interplay between long non-coding RNAs and the Wnt signaling cascade in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is a common and highly malignant bone tumor among children, adolescents and young adults. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. LncRNAs are transcripts with no or limited protein-coding capacity in human genomes, and have been demonstrated to play crucial functions in initiation, progression, therapeutic resistance, recurrence and metastasis of tumor. Considerable studies revealed a dysregulated lncRNA expression pattern in osteosarcoma, which may act as oncogenes or suppressors to regulate osteosarcoma progression. Wnt signaling pathway is an important cascade in tumorigenesis by modulation of pleiotropic biological functions including cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, stemness, genetic stability and chemoresistance. Hyperactivation or deficiency of key effectors in Wnt cascade is a common event in many osteosarcoma patients. Recently, increasing evidences have suggested that lncRNAs could interplay with component of Wnt pathway, and thereby contribute to osteosarcoma onset, progression and dissemination. In this review, we briefly summarize Wnt signaling-related lncRNAs in osteosarcoma progression, aiming to gain insights into their underlying crosstalk as well as clinical application in osteosarcoma therapeutic modalities.

The value of lncRNAs as prognostic biomarkers on clinical outcomes in osteosarcoma: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, emerging studies have demonstrated critical functions and potential clinical applications of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in osteosarcoma. To further validate the prognostic value of multiple lncRNAs, we have conducted this updated meta-analysis. METHODS: Literature retrieval was conducted by searching PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library (last update by October 2, 2019). A meta-analysis was performed to explore association between lncRNAs expression and overall survival (OS) of osteosarcoma patients. Relationships between lncRNAs expression and other clinicopathological features were also analyzed respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 4351 patients from 62 studies were included in this meta-analysis and 25 lncRNAs were identified. Pooled analyses showed that high expression of 14 lncRNAs connoted worse OS, while two lncRNAs were associated with positive outcome. Further, analysis toward osteosarcoma clinicopathologic features demonstrated that overexpression of TUG1 and XIST indicated poor clinical parameters of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis has elucidated the prognostic potential of 16 lncRNAs in human osteosarcoma. Evidently, desperate expression and functional targets of these lncRNAs offer new approaches for prognosis and therapy of osteosarcoma.

Oxygen Vacancy-Enhanced Ultrathin Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 Nanosheets' Photocatalytic Performances under Visible Light Irradiation.

The oxygen vacancy caused by ultrathin structures would be introduced into the semiconductor photocatalyst to boost its photocatalytic activity. Herein, ultrathin Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 nanosheet composites have been successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. Compared to pure Bi2WO6 nanosheets, the Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 nanosheet composites possess abundant oxygen vacancies, which was confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The ultrathin Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 nanosheet composites exhibited remarkable photocatalytic degradation performance for oxytetracycline compared with that of pure Bi2WO6 nanosheets. The excellent photocatalytic activities of Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 composites could be attributed to the heterojunction structure and the oxygen vacancies caused by ultrathin structures.

Patients' risk factors for periprosthetic joint infection in primary total hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of 40 studies.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a catastrophic complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Our meta-analysis aimed to identify the individual-related risk factors that predispose patients to PJI following primary THA. METHODS: Comprehensive literature retrieval from Pubmed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was performed from inception to Feb 20th, 2021. Patient-related risk factors were compared as per the modifiable factors (BMI, smoke and alcohol abuse), non-modifiable factors (gender, age), and medical history characteristics, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), avascular necrosis (AVN) of femoral head, femoral neck fracture, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and osteoarthritis (OA) etc. The meta-analysis was applied by using risk ratios with 95% corresponding intervals. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were performed to further assess the credibility of the results. RESULTS: Overall, 40 studies with 3,561,446 hips were enrolled in our study. By implementing cumulative meta-analysis, higher BMI was found associated with markedly increased PJI risk after primary THA [2.40 (2.01-2.85)]. Meanwhile, medical characteristics including DM [1.64 (1.25-2.21)], AVN [1.65 (1.07-2.56)], femoral neck fracture [1.75 (1.39-2.20)], RA [1.37 (1.23-1.54)], CVD [1.34 (1.03-1.74)], chronic pulmonary disease (CPD) [1.22 (1.08-1.37)], neurological disease [1.19 (1.05-1.35)], opioid use [1.53 (1.35-1.73)] and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) [1.15 (1.13-1.17)] were also significantly correlated with higher rate of PJI. Conversely, dysplasia or dislocation [0.65 (0.45-0.93)], and OA [0.70 (0.62-0.79)] were protective factors. Of Note, female gender was protective for PJI only after longer follow-up. Besides, age, smoking, alcohol abuse, previous joint surgery, renal disease, hypertension, cancer, steroid use and liver disease were not closely related with PJI risk. CONCLUSION: Our finding suggested that the individual-related risk factors for PJI after primary THA included high BMI, DM, AVN, femoral neck fracture, RA, CVD, CPD, neurological disease, opioid use and IDA, while protective factors were female gender, dysplasia/ dislocation and OA.

Emerging landscape of circular RNAs as biomarkers and pivotal regulators in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma represents the most prevailing primary bone tumor and the third most common cancer in children and adolescents worldwide. Among noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) refer to a unique class in the shape of a covalently closed continuous loop with neither 5' caps nor 3'-polyadenylated tails, which are generated through back-splicing. Recently, with the development of whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing technologies, a growing number of circRNAs have been found aberrantly expressed in multiple diseases, including osteosarcoma. circRNA are capable of various biological functions including miRNA sponge, mediating alternatives, regulating genes at posttranscriptional levels, and interacting with proteins, indicating a pivotal role of circRNA in cancer initiation, progression, chemoresistance, and immune response. Moreover, circRNAs have been thrust into the spotlight as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in osteosarcoma. Herein, we briefly summarize the origin and biogenesis of circRNA with current knowledge of circRNA in tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma, aiming to elucidate the specific role and clinical implication of circRNAs in osteosarcoma.

Cycle stability of conversion-type iron fluoride lithium battery cathode at elevated temperatures in polymer electrolyte composites.

Metal fluoride conversion cathodes offer a pathway towards developing lower-cost Li-ion batteries. Unfortunately, such cathodes suffer from extremely poor performance at elevated temperatures, which may prevent their use in large-scale energy storage applications. Here we report that replacing commonly used organic electrolytes with solid polymer electrolytes may overcome this hurdle. We demonstrate long-cycle stability for over 300 cycles at 50 °C attained in high-capacity (>450 mAh g-1) FeF2 cathodes. The absence of liquid solvents reduced electrolyte decomposition, while mechanical properties of the solid polymer electrolyte enhanced cathode structural stability. Our findings suggest that the formation of an elastic, thin and homogeneous cathode electrolyte interphase layer on active particles is a key for stable performance. The successful operation of metal fluorides at elevated temperatures opens a new avenue for their practical applications and future successful commercialization.

The predictive value of lncRNA MIR31HG expression on clinical outcomes in patients with solid malignant tumors.

BACKGROUND: Emerging studies have explored the prognostic value of MIR31HG in cancers, but its role remains elusive. Herein, we aimed to summarize the prognostic potential of MIR31HG in this study. METHODS: Several databases were searched for literature retrieval on Dec 5, 2019. Overall and subgroup analyses were conducted to measure the relationship between MIR31HG expression and clinical outcomes. Moreover, GEPIA was applied for validation of prognostic value of MIR31HG in tumor patients in TCGA dataset. RESULTS: Overall, seventeen studies with 2573 patients were enrolled. Compared to counterparts, those patients with high MIR31HG expression tended to have shorter RFS. Notably, MIR31HG overexpression predicted unfavorable OS in lung cancer. By contrast, gastrointestinal cancer patients with elevated MIR31HG expression predicted better OS and disease-free survival. Additionally, MIR31HG overexpression was significantly associated with worse clinicopathological features including advanced tumor stage and LNM in lung cancer, but favorable clinical characteristics in gastrointestinal cancer. Moreover, the positive association between MIR31HG and OS in lung cancer was further confirmed in TCGA dataset. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of MIR31HG suggested remarkable association with poor prognosis in terms of OS, tumor stage, and LNM in lung cancer, but favorable prognosis in gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, MIR31HG may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker in multiple cancers.

Upregulated expression of LncRNA nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase antisense RNA 1 is correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in cancers.

BACKGROUND: The nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase antisense RNA 1 (NNT-AS1) is a long non-coding RNA aberrantly expressed in human malignancies. We aimed to analyze available data to evaluate the correlation between NNT-AS1 expression and cancer prognosis. METHODS: Literature retrieval was performed by systematic searching related databases from inception to April 2, 2020. Studies regarding correlation between NNT-AS1 expression, survival outcomes and clinical characteristics of cancer patients were collected and pooled to calculate the the hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: Ten studies comprising 699 patients were included, all of which were conducted in China according to literature selection criteria. Overexpression of NNT-AS1 had a significant association with unfavorable overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.84-2.36, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis showed that tumor type, sample size, follow-up months, and survival analysis approach did not change the predictive value of NNT-AS1 on OS. Furthermore, elevated NNT-AS1 level had significant association with distant metastasis (DM) (OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.39-4.30), lymph node metastasis (LNM) (OR = 3.92, 95% CI: 1.35-11.41), TNM stage (OR = 4.25, 95% CI: 1.71-10.56), and vascular invasion (OR = 3.98, 95% CI: 2.06-7.71), but was not associated with age and gender. The TCGA dataset further consistently showed that the NNT-AS1 expression was associated with poor OS and disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: High expression of NNT-AS1 is associated with unfavorable survival outcomes and poor clinicopathologic characteristics. However, large-cohort data and geographical studies are still needed to further validate the prognostic value of NNT-AS1 in cancers.

A comparison and review of three sets of classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus for distinguishing systemic lupus erythematosus from pure mucocutaneous manifestations in the lupus disease spectrum.

Although the original purpose of the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) classification criteria was to distinguish SLE from other mimic diseases, and to facilitate sample selection in scientific research, they have become widely used as diagnostic criteria in clinical situations. It is not known yet if regarding classification criteria as diagnostic criteria, what problems might be encountered? This is the first study comparing the three sets of classification criteria for SLE, the 1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR'97), 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC'12) and 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR'19), for their ability to distinguish patients with SLE from patients with pure mucocutaneous manifestations (isolated cutaneous lupus erythematosus without internal disease, i-CLE) in the lupus disease spectrum. 1,865 patients with SLE and 232 patients with i-CLE were recruited from a multicenter study. We found that, due to low specificity, none of the three criteria are adept at distinguishing patients with SLE from patients with i-CLE. SLICC'12 performed best among the original three criteria, but if a positive ANA was removed as an entry criterion, EULAR/ACR'19 would performed better. A review of previous studies that compared the three sets of criteria was presented in this work.

Self-assembly of new O- and S-heterocycle-based protective layers for copper in acid solution.

In order to explore the effects of the structures of organic molecules on their performance and develop high-efficiency self-assembly monolayers (SAMs), two heterocycle-based indole compounds, namely FYBI and TYBI, have been synthesized by a simple route. Herein, we show that FYBI and TYBI can effectively self-assemble on a copper surface and form strong anti-corrosive monolayers to protect copper in acid medium. The compositions, morphologies, and thicknesses of the SAMs have been investigated by XPS, FTIR, SEM and ellipsometry analyses. The optimal self-assembly conditions and inhibition performance of the SAMs with O- or S-heterocycles have been studied by electrochemical tests. According to the results, TYBI displays more powerful inhibition performance than FYBI. Furthermore, the high-resolution XPS and quantum calculation results reveal that the S-heterocycle indole (TYBI) can readily donate electrons to the empty d orbital of Cu and form more robust, hydrophobic, and anti-corrosive SAMs than the O-heterocycle indole (FYBI). The inhibited corrosion is achieved by inhibiting the generation of Cu2+. This systematic study on the performance of various heterocycle-based organic compounds gives a fresh perspective for forming SAMs with certain characteristics, such as anti-corrosion ability or super-hydrophobicity.

Predictors and Survival of Patients with Osteosarcoma After Limb Salvage versus Amputation: A Population-Based Analysis with Propensity Score Matching.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting findings have been reported concerning the survival of patients treated with limb salvage and amputation for osteosarcoma. This study aimed to identify predictors associated with surgery types and survival difference. METHODS: Patients with osteosarcoma were selected from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database (1975-2016). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted, and a nomogram was further established. Propensity score matching (PSM)-adjusted Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to compare overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). RESULTS: Among 3363 patients with osteosarcoma, 2447 and 916 underwent limb salvage and amputation. Predictors associated with amputation in the nomogram included age, gender, primary tumor site, tumor grade, tumor stage, tumor size and radiotherapy. Totally 900 pairs of patients treated with limb salvage and amputation were matched after PSM. Limb salvage was significantly associated with improved OS (HR, 0.773; 95% CI, 0.670-0.892; p < 0.001) and CSS (HR, 0.795; 95% CI, 0.681-0.927; p = 0.003) in PSM-adjusted cohort after adjusting for related variables. The significant treatment effect of limb salvage was consistent within most subgroups. Among patients treated with surgery for osteosarcoma, age between 41 and 60, age ≥ 61, pelvis as the primary site, high tumor grade (III/IV), regional and distant tumor stage, tumor size ≥ 92 mm and radiotherapy were independent prognostic factors in PSM cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Limb salvage exhibits significant benefit on OS and CSS compared with amputation for osteosarcoma. Predicators and survival differences should be given full consideration for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

The Role of Chemotherapy in Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma: A Propensity Score Analysis of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Database.

BACKGROUND Incidence of extraskeletal osteosarcoma (ESOS) is extremely low and the prognosis remains unclear. We conducted this study to explore prognostic factors and the role of chemotherapy in ESOS. MATERIAL AND METHODS We screened data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (1975-2016). Three hundred ten patients with ESOS were included and 49.4% (107/310) of them underwent chemotherapy. We performed logistic regression analysis to investigate potential factors determining selection of chemotherapy. An inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM)-adjusted Kaplan-Meier curve was created and log-rank test and Cox regression analysis were performed to compare overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients treated with and without chemotherapy. Subgroup analysis also was conducted based on age, tumor site, stage, size, and surgery. RESULTS Chemotherapy in ESOS was not associated with improved OS in the unmatched cohort (HR, 0.764; 95% CI, 0.555-1.051; p=0.098). The insignificant treatment effect of chemotherapy was also noted in IPTW-adjusted (HR, 0.737; 95% CI, 0.533-1.021; p=0.066) and PSM-adjusted (HR, 0.804; 95% CI, 0.552-1.172; p=0.257) Cox regression analysis. The insignificant treatment effect was consistent across all subgroups and there was no significant heterogeneity of chemotherapy effect (all p for interaction >0.05). CONCLUSIONS The study suggested that chemotherapy has no significant benefit on prognosis of patients with ESOS. These findings should be considered when making treatment decisions about patients with ESOS.