Transradial and Transfemoral Approaches for Vertebral Artery Stenting: A Single-Center, Prospective, Non-Inferiority Comparison.

BACKGROUND Vertebral artery origin stenosis (VAOS) has recently gained increased attention, with endovascular treatments like stent implantation showing high success and low complication rates, although less is known about VAOS compared to carotid artery stenosis. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of transradial (TRA) and transfemoral (TFA) approaches for VAOS stent placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS We recruited a total of 102 patients undergoing vertebral artery stenting in our hospital between January 2020 and November 2022. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo either radial or femoral approach for stent implantation in the vertebral artery, and the radial approach group secondary divided into 2 groups by patients' consent: ipsilateral or contralateral radial approach. The success rates of VAOS stent implantation, operation time, and postoperative hospitalization time were compared between the 3 groups. In addition, we compared the outcomes of stroke within 30 days, transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 30 days, and other indicators. RESULTS Of the 102 patients, the final success rate of stent implantation was not significantly different between the 3 groups. The time from sheath insertion to stent insertion in the ipsilateral TRA group (median time: 19 min [interquartile range (IQR): 12-24.5 min]) was significantly shorter than in the transfemoral approach (TFA) group (median time: 29 min [IQR: 21-35.5 min]) (P<0.01; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 10 min [6-14 min]). There were no statistically significant differences between the 3 groups in terms of cerebrovascular events within 1 month, and patient satisfaction and preference favored the radial approach. CONCLUSIONS The postoperative hospitalization time and operation time associated with the ipsilateral TRA were shorter, and patient acceptance and satisfaction were higher.

Harnessing Deep Learning for Accurate Pathological Assessment of Brain Tumor Cell Types.

Primary diffuse central nervous system large B-cell lymphoma (CNS-pDLBCL) and high-grade glioma (HGG) often present similarly, clinically and on imaging, making differentiation challenging. This similarity can complicate pathologists' diagnostic efforts, yet accurately distinguishing between these conditions is crucial for guiding treatment decisions. This study leverages a deep learning model to classify brain tumor pathology images, addressing the common issue of limited medical imaging data. Instead of training a convolutional neural network (CNN) from scratch, we employ a pre-trained network for extracting deep features, which are then used by a support vector machine (SVM) for classification. Our evaluation shows that the Resnet50 (TL + SVM) model achieves a 97.4% accuracy, based on tenfold cross-validation on the test set. These results highlight the synergy between deep learning and traditional diagnostics, potentially setting a new standard for accuracy and efficiency in the pathological diagnosis of brain tumors.

Integrating Lipidomics, Metabolomics, and Network Pharmacology to Reveal the Mechanism of Cannabidiol against Inflammation in High-Fat, High-Cholesterol Diet-Induced Mice.

Inflammation plays a critical role in the development of numerous diseases. Cannabidiol (CBD), found in hemp, exhibits significant pharmacological activities. Accumulating evidence suggests that CBD has anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protection effects, but the potential mechanisms require further exploration. In this study, we aimed to reveal the mechanisms of CBD against high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFC) diet-induced inflammation combining metabolomics with network pharmacology. First, plasma lipidomics results indicated that oxidized lipids could serve as potential biomarkers for HFC diet-induced inflammation, and CBD reversed the elevated levels of oxidized lipids. The HFC diet was also found to enhance intestinal permeability, facilitating the entry of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) into the circulatory system and subsequently increasing systemic inflammation. Additionally, cell metabolomic results indicated that CBD could reverse 10 important differential metabolites in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Using network pharmacology, we identified 49 core targets, and enrichment analysis revealed that arachidonic acid was the most significantly affected by CBD, which was closely associated with inflammation. Further integrated analysis focused on three key targets, including PTGS2, ALOX5, and ALOX15. Molecular docking showed high affinities between key targets and CBD, and qPCR further demonstrated that CBD could reverse the mRNA expression of these key targets in RAW 264.7 cells. Collectively, this finding integrates lipidomics and metabolomics with network pharmacology to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD and validates key therapeutic targets.

Phytic acid inhibits Cr(VI) reduction on Fe(II)-bearing clay minerals: Changing reduction sites and electron transfer pathways.

The presence of organic phosphorus may influence the characteristics of Cr(VI) reduction and immobilization on Fe(II)-bearing clay minerals under anoxic conditions, as the organic phosphorus tends to bind strongly to clay minerals in soil. Herein, reduced nontronite (rNAu-2) was used to reduction of Cr(VI) in the presence of phytic acid (IHP) at neutral pH. With IHP concentration from 0 to 500 µM, Cr(VI) reduction decreased obviously (17.8%) within first 5 min, and then preferred to stagnate during 4-12 h (≥50 µM). After that, Cr(VI) was reduced continuously at a slightly faster rate. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that IHP primarily absorbed at the edge sites of rNAu-2 to form Fe-IHP complexes. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results demonstrated that IHP hindered the ingress of CrO42- into the interlayer space of rNAu-2 and impeded their reduction by trioctahedral Fe(II) and Al-Fe(II) at basal plane sites in the initial stage. Additionally, Fe(II) extraction results showed that IHP promoted the electron from interior transfer to near-edge, but hindered it further transfer to surface, resulting in the inhibition on Cr(VI) reduction at edge sites during the later stage. Consequently, IHP inhibits the reduction and immobilization of Cr(VI) by rNAu-2. Our study offers novel insights into electron transfer pathways during the Cr(VI) reduction by rNAu-2 with coexisting IHP, thereby improve the understanding of the geochemical processes of chromium within the iron cycle in soil.

On Demand Bioorthogonal Switching of an Antibody-Conjugated SPECT Probe to a Cytotoxic Payload: from Imaging to Therapy.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer aim to achieve selective delivery of a cytotoxic payload to tumor cells while sparing normal tissue. In vivo, multiple tumor-dependent and -independent processes act on ADCs and their released payloads to impact tumor-versus-normal delivery, often resulting in a poor therapeutic window. An ADC with a labeled payload would make synchronous correlations between distribution and tissue-specific pharmacological effects possible, empowering preclinical and clinical efforts to improve tumor-selective delivery; however, few methods to label small molecules without destroying their pharmacological activity exist. Herein, we present a bioorthogonal switch approach that allows a radiolabel attached to an ADC payload to be removed tracelessly at will. We exemplify this approach with a potent DNA-damaging agent, the pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer, delivered as an antibody conjugate targeted to lung tumor cells. The radiometal chelating group, DOTA, was attached via a novel trans-cyclooctene (TCO)-caged self-immolative para-aminobenzyl (PAB) linker to the PBD, stably attenuating payload activity and allowing tracking of biodistribution in tumor-bearing mice via SPECT-CT imaging (live) or gamma counting (post-mortem). Following TCO-PAB-DOTA reaction with tetrazines optimized for extra- and intracellular reactivity, the label was removed to reveal the unmodified PBD dimer capable of inducing potent tumor cell killing in vitro and in mouse xenografts. The switchable antibody radio-drug conjugate (ArDC) we describe integrates, but decouples, the two functions of a theranostic given that it can serve as a diagnostic for payload delivery in the labeled state, but can be switched on demand to a therapeutic agent (an ADC).

Biometric-Tuned E-Skin Sensor with Real Fingerprints Provides Insights on Tactile Perception: Rosa Parks Had Better Surface Vibrational Sensation than Richard Nixon.

The dense mechanoreceptors in human fingertips enable texture discrimination. Recent advances in flexible electronics have created tactile sensors that effectively replicate slowly adapting (SA) and rapidly adapting (RA) mechanoreceptors. However, the influence of dermatoglyphic structures on tactile signal transmission, such as the effect of fingerprint ridge filtering on friction-induced vibration frequencies, remains unexplored. A novel multi-layer flexible sensor with an artificially synthesized skin surface capable of replicating arbitrary fingerprints is developed. This sensor simultaneously detects pressure (SA response) and vibration (RA response), enabling texture recognition. Fingerprint ridge patterns from notable historical figures - Rosa Parks, Richard Nixon, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ronald Reagan - are fabricated on the sensor surface. Vibration frequency responses to assorted fabric textures are measured and compared between fingerprint replicas. Results demonstrate that fingerprint topography substantially impacts skin-surface vibrational transmission. Specifically, Parks' fingerprint structure conveyed higher frequencies more clearly than those of Nixon, King, or Reagan. This work suggests individual fingerprint ridge morphological variation influences tactile perception and can confer adaptive advantages for fine texture discrimination. The flexible bioinspired sensor provides new insights into human vibrotactile processing by modeling fingerprint-filtered mechanical signals at the finger-object interface.

Tunable Dual Self-Healing Composite Coatings with Self-Assembled Structures Regulated by Janus Nanoparticles.

The durability of concrete structures can be enhanced in a convenient and permanent manner through the surface protection of cementitious materials with composite polymer coatings. However, polymer coatings are susceptible to various mechanical and physical deterioration in complex and variable environments. In this paper, the theory of polymer microstructure regulation was employed to improve the sustainability of the protective performance of composite coatings. The self-assembled core-shell structure regulated by amphiphilic Janus nanoparticles is employed to modify the tunable polystyrene acrylate-polysiloxane self-healing coatings. The results demonstrate that the adhesion strength of the prepared self-assembled coating reached 3.7 MPa, which is sufficient to resist the damage to the microstructure of cementitious materials caused by physical erosion, seepage, and ionic corrosion. The self-healing coating, regulated by Janus particles, exhibited a residual creep of only 57.03% and a maximum loss angle tangent of 0.381. Furthermore, the material exhibited a superior shape memory function due to the presence of strong hydrogen bonding. The regulated self-healing coating repaired the polymer structural damage under mechanical and thermal deformation by bridging and filling effects. The coating demonstrated a tensile strength recovery of up to 71.23% in a wetted state, accompanied by a rapid restoration of its electrochemical properties and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the self-healing emulsion penetrates the substrate defects and forms numerous polymer crystalline particles that effectively fill the microcracks.

Deep Learning-Based Microscopic Cell Detection using Inverse Distance Transform and Auxiliary Counting.

Microscopic cell detection is a challenging task due to significant inter-cell occlusions in dense clusters and diverse cell morphologies. This paper introduces a novel framework designed to enhance automated cell detection. The proposed approach integrates a deep learning model that produces an inverse distance transform-based detection map from the given image, accompanied by a secondary network designed to regress a cell density map from the same input. The inverse distance transform-based map effectively highlights each cell instance in the densely populated areas, while the density map accurately estimates the total cell count in the image. Then, a custom counting-aided cell center extraction strategy leverages the cell count obtained by integrating over the density map to refine the detection process, significantly reducing false responses and thereby boosting overall accuracy. The proposed framework demonstrated superior performance with F-scores of 96.93%, 91.21%, and 92.00% on the VGG, MBM, and ADI datasets, respectively, surpassing existing state-of-the-art methods. It also achieved the lowest distance error, further validating the effectiveness of the proposed approach. These results demonstrate significant potential for automated cell analysis in biomedical applications.

Integrated bioinformatics combined with machine learning to analyze shared biomarkers and pathways in psoriasis and cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Psoriasis extends beyond its dermatological inflammatory manifestations, encompassing systemic inflammation. Existing studies have indicated a potential risk of cervical cancer among patients with psoriasis, suggesting a potential mechanism of co-morbidity. This study aims to explore the key genes, pathways, and immune cells that may link psoriasis and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC). Methods: The cervical squamous cell carcinoma dataset (GSE63514) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Two psoriasis-related datasets (GSE13355 and GSE14905) were merged into one comprehensive dataset after removing batch effects. Differentially expressed genes were identified using Limma and co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and machine learning random forest algorithm (RF) was used to screen the hub genes. We analyzed relevant gene enrichment pathways using GO and KEGG, and immune cell infiltration in psoriasis and CESC samples using CIBERSORT. The miRNA-mRNA and TFs-mRNA regulatory networks were then constructed using Cytoscape, and the biomarkers for psoriasis and CESC were determined. Potential drug targets were obtained from the cMAP database, and biomarker expression levels in hela and psoriatic cell models were quantified by RT-qPCR. Results: In this study, we identified 27 key genes associated with psoriasis and cervical squamous cell carcinoma. NCAPH, UHRF1, CDCA2, CENPN and MELK were identified as hub genes using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm. Chromosome mitotic region segregation, nucleotide binding and DNA methylation are the major enrichment pathways for common DEGs in the mitotic cell cycle. Then we analyzed immune cell infiltration in psoriasis and cervical squamous cell carcinoma samples using CIBERSORT. Meanwhile, we used the cMAP database to identify ten small molecule compounds that interact with the central gene as drug candidates for treatment. By analyzing miRNA-mRNA and TFs-mRNA regulatory networks, we identified three miRNAs and nine transcription factors closely associated with five key genes and validated their expression in external validation datasets and clinical samples. Finally, we examined the diagnostic effects with ROC curves, and performed experimental validation in hela and psoriatic cell models. Conclusions: We identified five biomarkers, NCAPH, UHRF1, CDCA2, CENPN, and MELK, which may play important roles in the common pathogenesis of psoriasis and cervical squamous cell carcinoma, furthermore predict potential therapeutic agents. These findings open up new perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

The relativity analysis of hypoxia inducible factor-1α in pulmonary arterial hypertension (ascites syndrome) in broilers: a review.

Ascites syndrome (AS) in broiler chickens, also known as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a significant disease in the poultry industry. It is a nutritional metabolic disease that is closely associated with hypoxia-inducible factors and rapid growth. The rise in pulmonary artery pressure is a crucial characteristic of AS and is instrumental in its development. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is an active subunit of a key transcription factor in the oxygen-sensing pathway. HIF-1α plays a vital role in oxygen homeostasis and the development of pulmonary hypertension. Studying the effects of HIF-1α on pulmonary hypertension in humans or mammals, as well as ascites in broilers, can help us understand the pathogenesis of AS. Therefore, this review aims to (1) summarize the mechanism of HIF-1α in the development of pulmonary hypertension, (2) provide theoretical significance in explaining the mechanism of HIF-1α in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (ascites syndrome) in broilers, and (3) establish the correlation between HIF-1α and pulmonary arterial hypertension (ascites syndrome) in broilers. HIGHLIGHTSExplains the hypoxic mechanism of HIF-1α.Linking HIF-1α to pulmonary hypertension in broilers.Explains the role of microRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension in broilers.

Whole-genome sequence of Porphyromonas pogonae PP01-1, a human strain harbouring blaOXA-347 and tet(Q)with chromosomal location.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterise the first complete genome of Porphyromonas pogonae strain PP01-1 of human origin in China. METHODS: The Illumina NovaSeq 6000 (200X coverage) and Nanopore MinION platforms (100× coverage) were used for genome sequencing. A de novo hybrid assembly of short Illumina reads and long MinION reads was performed using Unicycler (v.0.5.0). Genome annotation of PP01-1 was performed using the prokaryotic gene-prediction tool Prokka1.14.6. The genome was further analysed using several bioinformatics tools, including ResFinder, VFDB, VirulenceFinder, Type Strain Genome Server, AntiSMASH, PathogenFinder, MobileElementfinder, CRISPRFinder, and IslandViewer. RESULTS: The assembled circular genome of P. pogonae strain PP01-1 was 2 916 423 bp in length, with a GC content of 41.0%, and no plasmid sequence was detected. A total of 2399 coding sequences were predicted by Prokka. PP01-1 harbours antimicrobial resistance genes blaOXA-347 (ß-lactamase resistance), tet(Q) (tetracycline resistance), and floR (chloramphenicol and florfenicol resistance). CONCLUSIONS: Here, we are the first to report the complete genome of P. pogonae strain PP01-1 of human origin. In this strain, we first identified blaOXA-347 and tet(Q) in P. pogonae, which will pave the way for further analysis that could identify the potential mechanism of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in P. pogonae.

[Different concentrations of adapalene induce differentiation and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells]. / 不同浓度阿达帕林诱导SH-SY5Y细胞的分化及凋亡.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of adapalene on the morphology and functions of neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y, as well as its role in inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis. METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells were divided into control group, low concentration (0.1 µM and 1 µM) adapalene groups, and high concentration (10 µM) adapalene group. Time-lapse microscopy was used to observe the morphological changes of SH-SY5Y cells. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression of neuronal specific marker ßIII-tubulin and mature neuronal marker neurofilament heavy polypeptide (NFH). Multi-electrode array was used to record the electrophysiological features of SH-SY5Y cells. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using a cell apoptosis detection kit. RESULTS: Low concentrations of adapalene promoted the formation of neurite outgrowth in SH-SY5Y cells, with the neurites interconnected to form a network. Spontaneous discharge activity was observed in SH-SY5Y cells treated with low concentrations of adapalene. Compared to the control group, the expression of ßIII-tubulin and NFH increased in the 1 µM adapalene group, while the level of cell apoptosis increased in the high concentration adapalene group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low concentrations of adapalene can induce differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells into mature functional neurons, while high concentrations of adapalene can induce apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells.

Potent cancer therapy by liposome microstructure tailoring with active-to-passive targeting and shell-to-core thermosensitive features.

Liposomes have been widely studied as drug carriers for clinical application, and the key issue is how to achieve effective delivery through targeting strategies. Even though certain cell-level targeting or EPR effect designs have been developed, reaching sufficient drug concentration in intracellular regions remains a challenge due to the singularity of functionality. Herein, benefiting from the unique features of tumor from tissue to cell, a dual-thermosensitive and dual-targeting liposome (DTSL) was creatively fabricated through fine microstructure tailoring, which holds intelligent both tissue-regulated active-to-passive binding and membrane-derived homologous-fusion (HF) properties. At the micro level, DTSL can actively capture tumor cells and accompany the enhanced HF effect stimulated by self-constriction, which achieves a synergistic promotion effect targeting tissues to cells. As a result, this first active-then passive targeting process makes drug delivery more accurate and effective, and after dynamic targeting into cells, the nucleus of DTSL undergoes further thermally responsive contraction, fully releasing internal drugs. In vivo experiments showed that liposomes with dual targeting and dual thermosensitive features almost completely inhibited tumor growth. Summarized, these results provide a reference for a rational design and microstructural tailoring of the liposomal co-delivery system of drugs, suggesting that active-to-passive dual-targeting DTSL can function as a new strategy for cancer treatment.

Camrelizumab, chemotherapy and apatinib in the neoadjuvant treatment of resectable oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a single-arm phase 2 trial.

Background: In resectable oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the efficacy of camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy and apatinib followed by minimally invasive oesophagectomy is not clear. We aimed to fill this knowledge gap. Methods: This investigator-initiated, single-arm, prospective, phase 2 trial was performed at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, China. Patients (aged 18-75 years) who were histologically or cytologically diagnosed with ESCC were deemed suitable to participate in this trial. Patients received 2-3 cycles of neoadjuvant therapy with camrelizumab, nedaplatin, albumin paclitaxel, and apatinib; each cycle was repeated every 14 days. Surgery occurred 4-6 weeks after the last neoadjuvant treatment cycle. The primary outcome was the pathological complete response (PCR) rate of the tumour and lymph nodes. The changes in the peripheral blood immunoprofile among patients without PCR (ie, non-PCR [NPCR]) and with PCR were assessed by mass cytometry. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04666090. Findings: 42 patients were enrolled between November 23, 2020 and December 31, 2022. The disease control rate was 100.0% (95% CI, 91.6-100%), and the objective response rate was 83.3% (95% CI, 68.6-93.0%). Six (14.3%) patients experienced grade 3 adverse events. The most common were white blood cell count decrease (31.0%), alopecia (81.0%), asthenia (38.1%), and reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (35.7%). 41 patients received minimally invasive oesophagectomy; all 41patients achieved R0 resection, and 18 (43.9%, 95% CI, 28.5-60.3%) patients achieved PCR. The median follow-up was 23 months and the 2-year survival rate was 85.9%. T-cell subsets in both the PCR and NPCR groups exhibited consistency in response to neoadjuvant therapy. In contrast, some of natural killer (NK) cells (NK-C03, NK-C11), B cells (B-C06) and monocytes (M-C05), exhibited significant differences between the PCR and NPCR groups before neoadjuvant therapy. M-C06 had a significant difference in the PCR group and NPCR group after neoadjuvant therapy. NK-C12 and B-C15 showed significant differences both before and after neoadjuvant therapy. Interpretation: The application of camrelizumab, chemotherapy and apatinib in the neoadjuvant setting for locally advanced ESCC has shown promising antitumour activity and an acceptable safety profile in this single-arm study. In the neoadjuvant setting, NK cell, B cell, and monocyte subsets exhibited greater predictive power for immunotherapy responsiveness than T-cell subsets. Longer follow-up to assess survival outcomes and a phase 3 randomised trial are needed to further evaluate the proposed treatment. Funding: The China Anti-Cancer Association and the "Leading Goose" Research and Development Project of Zhejiang Province.

Surface Coordination Environment Engineering on PtxCu1-x Alloy Catalysts for the Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to CH4.

Alloy catalysts have been reported to be robust in catalyzing various heterogeneous reactions due to the synergistic effect between different metal atoms. In this work, aimed at understanding the effect of the coordination environment of surface atoms on the catalytic performance of alloy catalysts, a series of PtxCu1-x alloy model catalysts supported on anatase-phase TiO2 (PtxCu1-x/Ti, x = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8) were developed and applied in the classic photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction. According to the results of catalytic performance evaluation, it was found that the photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity on PtxCu1-x/Ti showed a volcanic change as a function of the Pt/Cu ratio, the highest CO2 conversion was achieved on Pt0.5Cu0.5/Ti, with CH4 as the main product. Further systematic characterizations and theoretical calculations revealed that the equimolar amounts of Pt and Cu in Pt0.5Cu0.5/Ti facilitated the generation of more Cu-Pt-paired sites (i.e., the higher coordination number of Pt-Cu), which would favor a bridge adsorption configuration of CO2 and facilitate the electron transfer, thus resulting in the highest photocatalytic CO2 reduction efficiency on Pt0.5Cu0.5/Ti. This work provided new insights into the design of excellent CO2 reduction photocatalysts with high CH4 selectivity from the perspective of surface coordination environment engineering on alloy catalysts.

Analysis of the effect of reconstructing the ossicular chain under otoendoscopy with and without a stapes superstructure.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have been conducted on the effect of the stapes superstructure after ossicular chain reconstruction, but the findings are not uniform. OBJECTIVE: To compare the hearing outcomes of ossicular chain reconstruction with partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) or total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) under otoendoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 111 patients diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into PORP group (n = 57) and TORP group (n = 54). They were further subdivided into subgroups PORP-a (with a malleus handle) and PORP-b (without a malleus handle), subgroups TORP-a and TORP-b. Pre- and postoperative audiometric results were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean postoperative air conduction hearing thresholds improvement, mean air-bone gap improvement, and the success rate of reconstruction were significantly higher in the PORP group than in the TORP group (p < .05). The mean postoperative air conduction hearing thresholds improvement and the success rate of reconstruction were significantly higher in the PORP-a group than in the TORP-a group (p < .05); and similar results were concluded in comparison of the PORP-b group and the TORP-b group. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The stapes superstructure has an important positive effect on the postoperative outcome of endoscopic ossicular chain reconstruction.

Fe(II)-catalyzed phase transformation of Cd(II)-bearing ferrihydrite-kaolinite associations under anoxic conditions: New insights to role of kaolinite and fate of Cd(II).

Cadmium-bearing ferrihydrite-kaolinite associations (Cd-associations) are commonly found in cadmium-contaminated paddy soils in tropical and subtropical regions. In the presence of anaerobic conditions caused by flooding, the creation of Fe(II) can facilitate the transformation of ferrihydrite into secondary Fe (hydr)oxides, resulting in the redistribution of Cd. However, the role of kaolinite in iron oxides transformation and changes in Cd chemical species have largely not been determined. In this study, Cd-associations were prepared for reaction with Fe(II) under anoxic conditions. The results obtained from powder XRD and EXAFS indicated that the presence of kaolinite association noticeably hastened the transformation of ferrihydrite into crystalline goethite. Specific surface area and electrochemical analyses revealed that smaller particle sizes and higher reactivity of ferrihydrite within Cd-associations collaboratively contribute to the acceleration. Chemical analyses demonstrated a significant negative correlation between ferrihydrite-Fe and aqueous-Cd, and a significant positive correlation between crystalline-Fe and residual-Cd. HRTEM analyses indicated that a portion of the Cd was incorporated into the crystal lattices of lepidocrocite and goethite, with the majority of Cd being sequestered within goethite lattice. These findings provide new insights into the roles of clay minerals in the geochemical cycling of Fe and Cd in paddy soils under anoxic conditions.

Complete remission of gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinoma with liver metastasis by tislelizumab plus chemotherapy: a case report.

Background: Gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinoma (GB-NEC) is an extremely rare cancer with a poor prognosis in the clinic. Although surgical resection remains the primary and preferred therapeutics, many patients are in a late stage and lose the opportunity for surgery. However, due to the extremely low morbidity, the specific treatment guidelines for GB-NEC have not been established. Case presentation: A 52-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of "almost 1 month after palliative surgery for metastatic gallbladder carcinoma." According to the results of pathological findings and imaging manifestations, the patient was diagnosed with GB-NEC with a clinical stage of pT3N1M1 (IVB). The patient then received tislelizumab plus EP chemotherapy (etoposide 100 mg + cisplatin 30 mg, d1-3) every 3 weeks for 8 cycles from 12 November, 2021, followed by maintenance therapy (tislelizumab alone) every 3 weeks until now. The tumor response was evaluated as complete remission since 13 February, 2023. As of the last follow-up, the patient remains alive, with no complaints of discomfort. Conclusions: Gallbladder NEC has no specific symptoms, and the diagnosis is based on pathological and immunohistochemical results. The therapeutic course and efficacy of the case in this study indicates that the application of PD-1 inhibitor might be a feasible therapeutic option for GB-NEC. However, this potential strategy needs validation by further clinical studies in the future.

Distant organ metastasis patterns and prognosis of lung adenosquamous carcinoma: a SEER database analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose is to evaluate the patterns of organ metastasis and the prognosis in lung adenosquamous carcinoma patients with organ metastasis. METHODS: We collected the data from the surveillance epidemiology and end results database, covering the period of 2000-2018. Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analyses were performed. RESULTS: Totally, 2698 patients were enrolled, comprising 851 (31.54%) patients diagnosed with organ metastasis and 2017 (68.46%) patients without organ metastasis. Patients with distant organ metastasis show a significant decrease in median overall survival. In addition to the aforementioned factors, age over 70 years, male, main bronchus, advanced T stage, larger tumour size, absence of primary tumour surgery and lack of radiotherapy have all been identified as prognostic indicators associated with a poorer outcome. In terms of treatment options, patients with organ metastasis can benefit from chemotherapy and primary tumour surgery. Moreover, in patients with organ metastasis, those who received a combination treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy displayed the most favourable prognosis, with a median overall survival of 17 months. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the prognostic indicators for organ metastasis in patients with lung adenosquamous carcinoma. Highly selected patients who undergo a combination treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may experience the greatest survival benefit.

Comparative structural, digestion and absorption characterization of three common extruded plant proteins.

Extruded plant proteins, also known as textured vegetable proteins (TVPs), serve as vital components in plant-based meat analogue, yet their structural and nutritional characteristics remain elusive. In this study, we examined the impact of high-moisture (HM) and low-moisture (LM) extrusion on the structures, digestion and absorption of three types of plant proteins. Extrusion transformed plant proteins from spherical to fibrous forms, and formed larger aggregate particles. It also led to the disruption of original disulfide bonds and hydrophobic interactions within protein molecules, and the formation of new cross-links. Intriguingly, compared to native plant proteins, TVPs' α-helix/ß-sheet values decreased from 0.68 to 0.69 to 0.56-0.65. Extrusion increased the proportion of peptides shorter than 1 kD in digesta of TVPs by 1.44-23.63%. In comparison to unextruded plant proteins, TVPs exhibited lower content of free amino acids in cell transport products. Our findings demonstrated that extrusion can modify protein secondary structure by diminishing the α-helix/ß-sheet value, and impact protein tertiary structure by reducing disulfide bonds and hydrophobic interactions, promoting the digestion and absorption of plant proteins. These insights offer valuable scientific backing for the utilization of extruded plant-based proteins, bolstering their role in enhancing the palatability and nutritional profile of plant-based meat substitutes.