Retrospective Clinical Study on Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine in Treatment of Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of integrated Chinese and Western medicine extending the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients after the first-line chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: The data of 67 LS-SCLC patients who received combined treatment of CM and Western medicine (WM) between January 2013 and May 2020 at the outpatient clinic of Guang'anmen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-six LS-SCLC patients who received only WM treatment was used as the WM control group. The medical data of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using the product-limit method (Kaplan-Meier analysis). The median OS and PFS were calculated, and survival curves were compared by the Log rank test. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were estimated by the life table analysis. Stratified survival analysis was performed between patients with different CM administration time. RESULTS: The median PFS in the CM and WM combination treatment group and the WM group were 19 months (95% CI: 12.357-25.643) vs. 9 months (95% CI: 5.957-12.043), HR=0.43 (95% CI: 0.27-0.69, P<0.001), respectively. The median OS in the CM and WM combination group and the WM group were 34 months (95% CI could not be calculated) vs. 18.63 months (95% CI: 16.425-20.835), HR=0.40 (95% CI: 0.24-0.66, P<0.001), respectively. Similar results were obtained in the further stratified analysis of whether the duration of CM administration exceeded 18 and 24 months (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The combination treatment of CM and WM with continuing oral administration of CM treatment after the first-line chemoradiotherapy for LS-SCLC patients produced better prognosis, lower risks of progression, and longer survival than the WM treatment alone. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200056616).

Contact toxicity and repellence of essential oil from Senecio scandens and its major components against three stored product insects.

The objective of this work was to investigate the chemical compositions of the essential oil (EO) extracted from Senecio scandens by hydrodistillation and their insecticidal activities against Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne and Liposceis bostrychophila. The chemical profile of the EO were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 20 compounds were identified which accounted for 88.03% of the total EO. Five major compounds identified in the EO were assayed against the three stored product insects. The EO showed strong contact toxicity to T. castaneum (LD50 = 18.01 µg/adult), L. serricorne (LD50 = 20.11 µg/adult) and L. bostrychophila (LD50 = 72.14 µg/cm2). Among all compounds, geraniol showed the contact toxicity against L. serricorne and L. bostrychophila with LD50 values of 15.82 µg/adult and 26.64 µg/cm2. The EO and its five chemical compounds also exhibited different level of potential repellence to the three stored product insects.

Penta-Graphene as a Potential Gas Sensor for NOx Detection.

Two-dimensional (2D) penta-graphene (PG) with unique properties that can even outperform graphene is attracting extensive attention because of its promising application in nanoelectronics. Herein, we investigate the electronic and transport properties of monolayer PG with typical small gas molecules, such as CO, CO2, NH3, NO and NO2, to explore the sensing capabilities of this monolayer by using first-principles and non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) calculations. The optimal position and mode of adsorbed molecules are determined, and the important role of charge transfer in adsorption stability and the influence of chemical bond formation on the electronic structure of the adsorption system are explored. It is demonstrated that monolayer PG is most preferred for the NOx (x = 1, 2) molecules with suitable adsorption strength and apparent charge transfer. Moreover, the current-voltage (I-V) curves of PG display a tremendous reduction of 88% (90%) in current after NO2 (NO) adsorption. The superior sensing performance of PG rivals or even surpasses that of other 2D materials such as graphene and phosphorene. Such ultrahigh sensitivity and selectivity to nitrogen oxides make PG a superior gas sensor that promises wide-ranging applications.

Monolayer Phosphorene-Carbon Nanotube Heterostructures for Photocatalysis: Analysis by Density Functional Theory.

One-dimensional (1D)/2D heterostructures have attracted great attention in electronic and optoelectronic fields because of their unique geometrical structures and rich physics. Here, we systematically explore electronic structure and optical performance of single-wall carbon nanotube (CNT)/phosphorene (BP) hybrids by large-scale density functional theory (DFT) computation. The results show that the interfacial interaction between CNT and BP is a weak van der Waals (vdW) force and correlates with tube diameter of CNTs. The CNT/BP hybrids have strong optical absorption compared with that of individual BP and CNT. A diameter-dependent type I or II heterojunction in CNT/BP hybrids is observed. Moreover, CNTs can not only significantly promote photogenerated carrier transfer, but also effectively improve the photocatalytic activities of BP as a co-catalyst. These findings would enrich our understanding of BP-based 1D/2D heterostructures, providing further insight into the design of highly efficient phosphorene-based or CNT-based nanophotocatalysts.

A novel open-porous magnesium scaffold with controllable microstructures and properties for bone regeneration.

The traditional production methods of porous magnesium scaffolds are difficult to accurately control the pore morphologies and simultaneously obtain appropriate mechanical properties. In this work, two open-porous magnesium scaffolds with different pore size but in the nearly same porosity are successfully fabricated with high-purity Mg ingots through the titanium wire space holder (TWSH) method. The porosity and pore size can be easily, precisely and individually controlled, as well as the mechanical properties also can be regulated to be within the range of human cancellous bone by changing the orientation of pores without sacrifice the requisite porous structures. In vitro cell tests indicate that the scaffolds have good cytocompatibility and osteoblastic differentiation properties. In vivo findings demonstrate that both scaffolds exhibit acceptable inflammatory responses and can be almost fully degraded and replaced by newly formed bone. More importantly, under the same porosity, the scaffolds with larger pore size can promote early vascularization and up-regulate collagen type 1 and OPN expression, leading to higher bone mass and more mature bone formation. In conclusion, a new method is introduced to develop an open-porous magnesium scaffold with controllable microstructures and mechanical properties, which has great potential clinical application for bone reconstruction in the future.

[Hair roots induction and culture of Withania somnifera and its withanolide A synthesis].

Withanolide A is a biologically active secondary metabolite occuring in roots and leaves of Withania somnifera. In the present study, adventitious roots from leaf explants of W. somnifera were induced for the production of withanolide-A by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58C1 to obtain hair roots. Hair roots induction rate reached 30%. The withanolide A was determined by HPLC in different hair roots lines and different parts of W. somnifera. The average content of withanolide A in all hair roots lines were 1.96 times as high as that in wild-plant, the concentration of withanolide A in hair roots (1.783 mg x g(-1) dry weight) were 1.51 times as high as the roots of wild W. somnifera (1.180 mg x g(-1) dry weight), respectively. It is possible to obtain withanolide A from hair roots culture of W. somnifera.

[Plant regeneration and clonal propagation system of Datura metel].

OBJECTIVE: To study the condition of plant regeneration and clonal propagation system of Datura metel. METHODS: Stems and leaves of Datura metel were used as explants, effects of different hormones for callus induction and plant regeneration of leaves and clonal propagation system of stems were studied and optimized. RESULTS: The optimal way to obtain sterile explant for leaves were sterilized in 75% ethyl alcohol for 6 s then 0.1% HgCl2 for 6 min; Stems were sterilized in 75% ethyl alcohol for 8 s then 0.1% HgCl2 for 7 min. The optimal medium for callus of leaves was MS + 1.0 mg/L 6-BA + 0.1 mg/L NAA; The optimal medium for callus induction of clustered buds was MS + 2.0 mg/L 6-BA + 0.2 mg/L NAA; The optimal medium for clonal propagation system of stems was MS + 3.0 mg/L 6-BA + 0.05 mg/L NAA. The best medium for rooting induction was MS + 0.5 mg/L IBA. Transplant survival rate of plantlet was greater than 90% in humus soil-pearlite (5:1). CONCLUSION: The condition of plant regeneration and clonal propagation system of Datura metel is established.

A novel classification to guide total hip arthroplasty for adult acetabular dysplasia.

In the field of hip arthroplasties, the secondary fixation of the implants depends directly on the quality of the primary stability. A good acetabular fit and metaphyseal filling between the prostheses and implants improve the initial stabilization, and optimize the transmission of forces to the bone. A precise knowledge of the three-dimensional acetabular or femoral shape is essential to the selection of adapted implants. A total of 63 patients diagnosed with developmental dysplasia were analyzed by three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT), and the preoperative radiographic and 3DCT images were used to assess the acetabular/femoral deformities and variations of the hips. All joints were classified as Crowe type I, and bilateral measurements were taken for 10 patients. The acetabular abnormalities were classified according to the type of deficiency and the section angles of the acetabulum, with 26 hips (36%) classified as an anterior deficiency, 13 hips (18%) as a posterior deficiency and 34 hips (46%) as a lateral deficiency. The femoral side deformities were divided into three types according to the anteversion angle of the femur. A gradual increase in anteversion angle led to secondary rotational anomalies, and a narrowing of the canal at the isthmus. A total of 35 hips (48%) were classified as an F1 type deficiency, femur anteversion angle (FAVA) <30°; 32 hips (44%) as F2-type, 30°≤ FAVA ≤40°, with mild abnormalities of the femoral canal rotation and the diameter of the isthmus; and 6 hips (8%) as F3 type, FAVA >40°, with significant abnormalities of the femoral canal rotation and the diameter of the isthmus. This novel classification for adult acetabular dysplasia may provide a useful guide for surgery, and enable an improved selection of a suitable prosthesis.