Efficacy of Rituximab in the Treatment of Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Meta-analysis.

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) accounts for about 80% of all patients with pemphigus, and is the type with the most serious condition and the worst prognosis among autoimmune bullous diseases. Glucocorticoid and immunosuppressor are the main treatment method for PV. Methods: The computer retrieves four databases obtain controlled trials on the effects of Rituximab in patients with pemphigus vulgaris. After a rigorous literature quality evaluation, data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: 7 studies were ultimately included in this meta-analysis. 6 studies reported the Remission rate of the test group and the control group, which was significantly higher (OR:2.26; 95% Cl: 1.80,2.82; P < .01) than the control group. Meta-analysis showed that the improvement of the Recurrence rate was significantly lower than the control group (OR:0.36; 95% Cl: 0.20,0.67; P < .01). Meta-analysis showed that the Adverse reactions was no significant statistical significance than the control group (OR:0.82; 95% Cl: 0.53,1.28; P = .383). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Rituximab may be effective in patients with pemphigus vulgaris, which will bring light for patients and doctors. And the above conclusions need to be verified by more high-quality studies.

Risk and prognosis of second cutaneous melanoma after radiotherapy for breast cancer: A population-based analysis.

Radiation therapy (RT), a primary treatment for breast cancer (BC), may be associated with increased non-BC tumor risk. We aimed to examine second cutaneous melanoma (SCM) risk in BC patients who underwent RT and to assess their survival outcomes. Data from 520,977 BC patients diagnosed between 1973-2018 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Cumulative SCM incidence was estimated using the Fine-Gray competing risk model. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to calculate the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and estimate the SCM relative risk in patients who underwent RT compared to those who did not. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were assessed using the Kaplan‒Meier method. Among the 520,977 BC patients, 243,676 (46.8%) underwent surgery and RT, while 277,301 (53.2%) only underwent surgery. Our results suggest that BC patients receiving RT had a higher SCM risk than those who did not (hazard ratio [HR] 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-1.51; P < 0.001). SCM incidence was also higher in BC patients treated with RT than in the general US population (SIR 1.12; 95% CI 1.05-1.19; P < 0.05). However, SCM patients who received RT had a significantly higher 10-year survival rate than those who did not receive RT (14.90% vs 5.94%; P < 0.001). No significant difference was found in 10-year OS or 5-year CSS between SCM following RT and only primary cutaneous melanoma (OPCM), but SCM patients who did not receive RT had a significantly lower 10-year OS, with no significant difference in CSS. This study suggests an increased SCM likelihood in BC patients due to RT, although the overall risk is minimal.

Dosage Effect of Wet-Process Tuff Silt Powder as an Alternative Material of Sand on the Performance of Reactive Powder Concrete.

A large amount of stone powder is produced during the production of machine-made sand. This research aims to study the effect of wet-process tuff silt powder (WTSP) dosages (as an alternative sand material to utilize waste stone powder and reduce environmental hazards) on reactive powder concrete's (RPC) mechanical performance. The physical and chemical properties of WTSP were analyzed as per relevant standards. This study prepared RPC samples with various WTSP content (0%, 6%, 12%, and 18%) to replace quartz sand at the same water-binder ratio (0.14) and allowed the samples to cure for 3 days, 7 days and 28 days prior to unconfined compression testing and flexural testing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) testing were also carried out to observe the evolution of macroscopic properties in response to replacing part of quartz sand with the same amount of WTSP. The results show that the developed flexural and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) decreases slowly with a greater dosage of WTSP. However, when the WTSP content is 12% or less, the RPC made with WTSP satisfies the industrial application threshold regarding mechanical properties. For RPC samples containing more than 12% WTSP, the UCS and flexural strength showed a dramatic drop. Thus 12% of WTSP content was deemed the maximum and the corresponding UCS of 104.6 MPa and flexural strength of 12 MPa for 28 days of curing were the optimums. The microscopic characteristics indicate that the addition of WTSP can effectively fill the large pores in the RPC micro-structure, hence reducing the porosity of RPC. Furthermore, the WTSP can react with the cementitious material to form calcium aluminate during the hydration process, further strengthening the interface. The alkaline calcium carbonate in WTSP could improve the interfacial adhesion and make the structure stronger.

Optimization of Embedded Sensor Packaging Used in Rollpave Pavement Based on Test and Simulation.

Rollpave pavement, as a rollable prefabricated asphalt pavement technology, can effectively reduce the overall road closure time required for pavement construction and maintenance. Sensors can be integrated into Rollpave pavement, thereby avoiding sensor damage that may otherwise result from high temperatures and compactive forces during the rolling process, as well as pavement structural damage resulting from cutting and drilling. However, the embedment of sensors into Rollpave pavement still presents certain challenges, namely poor interfacial synergy between the embedded sensor and the asphalt mixture. To solve this problem, three-point bending tests and dynamic response FEM simulations were used to optimize the embedded sensor's packaging. The influence of sensor embedment on Rollpave pavement under different working conditions was analyzed. Results of these analyses show that low temperature and the epoxy resin negatively affect the bending performance of specimens, and that packaging with cylindrical shape, flat design, and consisting of a material with modulus similar to that of the asphalt mixture should be preferred. This study is conducive to improve the intellectual level and service life of road infrastructure.

Influence of Temperature on the Natural Vibration Characteristics of Simply Supported Reinforced Concrete Beam.

Natural vibration characteristics serve as one of the crucial references for bridge monitoring. However, temperature-induced changes in the natural vibration characteristics of bridge structures may exceed the impact of structural damage, thus causing some interference in damage identification. This study analyzed the influence of temperature on the natural vibration characteristics of simply supported beams, which is the most widely used bridge structure. The theoretical formula for the variation of the natural frequency of simply supported beams with temperature was proposed. The elastic modulus of simply supported beams in the range of -40 °C to 60 °C was acquired by means of the falling ball test and the theoretical formula and was compared with the elastic modulus obtained by the three-point bending test at room temperature (20 °C). In addition, the Midas/Civil finite-element simulation was carried out for the natural frequency of simply supported beams at different temperatures. The results showed that temperature was the main factor causing the variation of the natural frequency of simply supported beams. The linear negative correlation between the natural frequency of simply supported beams and their temperature were observed. The natural frequency of simply supported beams decreased by 0.148% for every 1 °C increase. This research contributed to the further understanding of the natural vibration characteristics of simply supported beams under the influence of temperature so as to provide references for natural frequency monitoring and damage identification of beam bridges.

Ultrasound-Stimulated Microbubbles Enhance Radiosensitization of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies indicate that therapies targeting the vasculature can significantly sensitize tumors to radiation. Ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles (USMBs) are regarded as a promising radiosensitizer. In this study, we investigated the effect of USMBs on the sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to radiation. METHODS: Human NPC (CNE-2) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to radiation (0, 2, and 8 Gy) alone or in combination with USMBs. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured with the MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The angiogenic activity of HUVECs was detected using matrigel tubule formation. The in vitro effects induced by these treatments were confirmed in vivo with xenograft models of CNE-2 cells in nude mice by examining vascular integrity using color Doppler flow imaging and cell survival using immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the in vivo and in vitro expressions of angiotensin II (ANG II) and its receptor (AT1R) were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, respectively. With CNE-2 cells and HUVECs transfected with control, ANG II, or AT1R, perindopril (an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme) and candesartan (an inhibitor of AT1R) were used to verify the role of ANG II and AT1R in the radiosensitivity of tumor and endothelial cells by USMBs, by determining cell viability and apoptosis and angiogenic activity. RESULTS: In the NPC xenografts, USMBs slightly reduced blood flow and CD34 expression, increased tumor cell death and ANG II and AT1R expression, and significantly enhanced the effects of radiation. With CNE-2 cells and HUVECs, the USMBs further enhanced the inhibition of tumor cell viability and endothelial tubule formation and further enhanced the increase in ANG II and AT1R due to radiation. Furthermore, perindopril and candesartan significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of radiation and USMBs on tumor cell growth and angiogenesis in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated for the first time that USMB exposure can significantly enhance the destructive effect on NPC of radiation, and this effect might be further increased by ANG II and AT1R inhibition. Our findings suggest that USMBs can be used as a promising sensitizer of radiotherapy to treat NPC, and the clinical effect might be increased by ANG II and AT1R inhibition.

Proteus syndrome: a case report and a case study review in China.

Proteus syndrome (PS) is a rare and sporadic disorder characterized by overgrowth of multiple tissues and a propensity to develop particular neoplasms. The clinical manifestations of PS include macrodactyly, vertebral abnormalities, asymmetric limb overgrowth and length discrepancy, hyperostosis, abnormal and asymmetric fat distribution, asymmetric muscle development, connective tissue nevi, and vascular malformations. We report a 16-year old female patient who manifested a number of these complications and review the Chinese literature about the diagnosis, natural history, and management of PS.

[In vitro effect of bortezomib alone or in combination with harringtonine or arsenic trioxide on proliferation and apoptosis of multidrug resistant leukemia cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bortezomib alone or combined with harringtonine (HT) or arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on the proliferation capacity and apoptosis of HL-60/ADM cell line and fresh cells from refractory/relapse acute leukemia patients. METHODS: HL-60/ADM cells or refractory/relapse leukemia cells were incubated with bortezomib at different doses alone and in combination with HT or As2O3. The proliferation capacity was observed by MTT assay, cell apoptosis by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Intracellular concentration of daunorubicin (DNR) was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In bortezomib-treated HL-60/ADM cells, the proliferation inhibition rate and apoptotic cells increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. 40 nmol/L bortezomib could maximally inhibit the proliferation of HL-60/ADM cells at 48 hours. 15 micromol/L As2O3 or 752 nmol/L HT combined with different doses of bortezomib could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of HL-60/ADM cells. The As2O3 plus bortezomib or HT plus bortezomib showed a greater anticancer efficacy than either of the drugs alone (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Bortezomib (10 nmol/L) could markedly enhance the intracellular accumulation of DNR in HL-60/ADM cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bortezomib can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of HL-60/ADM cells and fresh refractory/relapse acute leukemia cells, especially combined with HT or As2O3.

[Effect of bortezomib used alone or in combination with arsenic trioxide on HL-60 cell xenograft in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the antitumor efficacy and adverse effects of bortezomib either used alone or in combination with arsenic trioxide for transplanted tumor in nude mice. METHODS: Nude mice bearing HL-60 cell xenografts were randomized into 4 groups to receive treatment with normal saline, bortezomib, arsenic trioxide, bortezomib plus arsenic trioxide. The tumor growth inhibition and general condition of the nude mice were observed, and in situ TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry were performed on the transplanted tumors. RESULTS: Bortezomib alone and in combination with arsenic trioxide could both inhibit the growth of the transplanted tumors, prolong the survival of the nude mice, and induce cell apoptosis and growth inhibition of the HL-60 cells in vivo, and the combined administration exhibited even better effects. The administration was well tolerated with causing manifest vital organ damages in the mice. CONCLUSION: Bortezomib in combination with arsenic trioxide has significant antitumor effect in nude mice bearing HL-60 cell xenografts possibly by inducing HL-60 cell apoptosis and growth inhibition without producing no significant adverse effects.