HIF-1 induced tiRNA-Lys-CTT-003 is protective against cisplatin induced ferroptosis of renal tubular cells in mouse AKI model.

HIF-1 activation is protective in acute kidney injury (AKI), but its underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Stress-induced tRNA derived small RNAs play an emerging role in cellular processes. This study investigated the role of HIF-1 associated tiRNA-Lys-CTT-003 (tiR-Lys) in an AKI mouse model. Our sequencing results showed that ischemia can promote the production of renal tiR-Lys by activating HIF-1α. FG-4592, a HIF-1 inducer, can also upregulate the expression of tiR-Lys in renal tubular cells. Both overexpression of tiR-Lys and FG-4592 pre-treatment could improve mitochondrial damage and lipid peroxidation with alleviated renal function and morphological damage in cisplatin-induced AKI mice. While the anti-ferroptosis effect of FG-4592 were largely eliminated by tiR-Lys inhibitor. Notably, tiR-Lys directly alleviated cell death and MDA accumulation induced by the ferroptosis inducer Erastin, accompanied with restored expression of GPX4. RNA-Pulldown and RIP-qPCR results revealed that tiR-Lys can interact with the RNA-binding protein GRSF1.tiR-lys overexpression can preserve protein expression of GRSF1 decreased by cisplatin. Inhibiting Grsf1 via shRNA eliminated the upregulation of GPX4 by tiR-Lys. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that HIF-1α-induced tiR-Lys is protective in cisplatin-induced AKI, primarily by upregulating the level of GPX4 through interaction with GRSF1, thereby inhibiting ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells.

Effect of electroacupuncture intervention on angiogenesis in psoriasis mice. / ç”µé’ˆå¯¹é“¶å±‘ç— å°é¼ è¡€ç®¡ç”Ÿæˆçš„å½±å“åŠæœºåˆ¶ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Zusanli"(ST36) and"Xuehai"(SP10) on the angiogenesis of the local injured skin tissue in mice with psoriasis, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of psoriasis-induced skin lesions. METHODS: A total of 24 female BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into control, model and EA groups, with 8 mice in each group. The psoriasis-like skin lesion model was established by application of 5% imiquimod (IMQ) cream to the mice's back skin, 62.5 mg/d, for 7 days after local depilation, and the mice of the control group received local application of an equal amount of petroleum jelly once a day for 7 days. EA stimulation (2 Hz/100 Hz) was applied to ST36 and SP10 for 30 min, once daily for 7 consecutive days. Photos of the topical injured skin at the back were taken every day, and the severity of psoriasis lesions (psoriasis area and severity index ï¼»PASIï¼½) was scaled. Following H.E. staining, the morphological changes in the injured skin tissue were observed with epidermal thickness analyzed, and the Masson staining was used to observe the proportion of collagen fibers in the injured skin tissues. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of microvascular markers CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the microvascular density (MVD) was calculated. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of CD31, VEGF proteins and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway related proteins p38, phosphorylated p38 (p-p38), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), p-ERK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p-JNK in the injured skin tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the mice in the model group showed an evident increase in the erythema score, scales score, skin thickening score and PASI score, epidermal thickness, proportion of the collagen fibers, MVD value of CD31 and VEGF, and expression levels of CD31 and VEGF proteins, and p-p38/p38, p-ERK/ERK and p-JNK/JNK ratios in the injured skin tissue (P<0.001, P<0.01). In contrast to the model group, the EA group had a significant decrease in the levels of all the indexes mentioned above (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EA intervention can improve the psoriasis-like skin lesions induced by IMQ in mice, which may be related with its functions in down-regulating the expression of angiogenic related factors CD31 and VEGF proteins and MAPK signaling pathway related proteins in the topical injured skin tissue.

Surface heterojunction based on n-type low-dimensional perovskite film for highly efficient perovskite tandem solar cells.

Enhancing the quality of junctions is crucial for optimizing carrier extraction and suppressing recombination in semiconductor devices. In recent years, metal halide perovskite has emerged as the most promising next-generation material for optoelectronic devices. However, the construction of high-quality perovskite junctions, as well as characterization and understanding of their carrier polarity and density, remains a challenge. In this study, using combined electrical and spectroscopic characterization techniques, we investigate the doping characteristics of perovskite films by remote molecules, which is corroborated by our theoretical simulations indicating Schottky defects consisting of double ions as effective charge dopants. Through a post-treatment process involving a combination of biammonium and monoammonium molecules, we create a surface layer of n-type low-dimensional perovskite. This surface layer forms a heterojunction with the underlying 3D perovskite film, resulting in a favorable doping profile that enhances carrier extraction. The fabricated device exhibits an outstanding open-circuit voltage (VOC) up to 1.34 V and achieves a certified efficiency of 19.31% for single-junction wide-bandgap (1.77 eV) perovskite solar cells, together with significantly enhanced operational stability, thanks to the improved separation of carriers. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of this wide-bandgap device by achieving a certified efficiency of 27.04% and a VOC of 2.12 V in a perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cell configuration.

Self-Assembled Interlayer Enables High-Performance Organic Photovoltaics with Power Conversion Efficiency Exceeding 20.

Interfacial layers (ILs) are prerequisites to form the selective charge transport for high-performance organic photovoltaics (OPVs) but mostly result in considerable parasitic absorption loss. Trimming the ILs down to a mono-molecular level via the self-assembled monolayer is an effective strategy to mitigate parasitic absorption loss. However, such a strategy suffers from inferior electrical contact with low surface coverage on rough surfaces and poor producibility. To address these issues, here, the self-assembled interlayer (SAI) strategy is developed, which involves a thin layer of 2-6 nm to form a full coverage on the substrate via both covalent and van der Waals bonds by using a self-assembled molecule of 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl) (2PACz). Via the facile spin coating without further rinsing and annealing process, it not only optimizes the electrical and optical properties of OPVs, which enables a world-record efficiency of 20.17% (19.79% certified) but also simplifies the tedious processing procedure. Moreover, the SAI strategy is especially useful in improving the absorbing selectivity for semi-transparent OPVs, which enables a record light utilization efficiency of 5.34%. This work provides an effective strategy of SAI to optimize the optical and electrical properties of OPVs for high-performance and solar window applications.

tRNA-Derived Small RNAs: A Novel Regulatory Small Noncoding RNA in Renal Diseases.

Background: tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are an emerging class of small noncoding RNAs derived from tRNA cleavage. Summary: With the development of high-throughput sequencing, various biological roles of tsRNAs have been gradually revealed, including regulation of mRNA stability, transcription, translation, direct interaction with proteins and as epigenetic factors, etc. Recent studies have shown that tsRNAs are also closely related to renal disease. In clinical acute kidney injury (AKI) patients and preclinical AKI models, the production and differential expression of tsRNAs in renal tissue and plasma were observed. Decreased expression of tsRNAs was also found in urine exosomes from chronic kidney disease patients. Dysregulation of tsRNAs also appears in models of nephrotic syndrome and patients with lupus nephritis. And specific tsRNAs were found in high glucose model in vitro and in serum of diabetic nephropathy patients. In addition, tsRNAs were also differentially expressed in patients with kidney cancer and transplantation. Key Messages: In the present review, we have summarized up-to-date works and reviewed the relationship and possible mechanisms between tsRNAs and kidney diseases.

The Use of Digital PCR for the Diagnosis of Demodex Blepharitis.

PURPOSE: This was a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of digital polymerase chain reaction detection of Demodex in eyelid margin swabs for the diagnosis of Demodex blepharitis. This study aims to explore the possibility of digital polymerase chain reaction detection to improve the diagnostic accuracy of Demodex blepharitis detection. METHODS: Volunteers were prospectively recruited and classified by experienced doctors into suspected Demodex blepharitis or healthy controls using slit-lamp evaluation of the eyelid margin and an inquiry about symptoms. Three eyelashes from each eyelid were epilated from participants in each group for microscopic observation and mite counting. Then, swabs from the eyelid margins of each eye were collected after the eyelashes were epilated and stored at -80 °C for future DNA extraction and digital polymerase chain reaction detection. The positive or negative results of both methods were compared for diagnostic accuracy, and the Kappa value was also calculated to evaluate their consistency. RESULTS: The accuracy of the digital polymerase chain reaction detection was 71.6% and that of the mite counting method was 75%. Their combined accuracy was improved to 77.3%. The Kappa value of the two methods was 0.505, indicating moderate consistency. CONCLUSION: Digital polymerase chain reaction detection of Demodex from ocular surface swabs was painless and noninvasive and is a potentially accurate quantitative method available for diagnosing Demodex blepharitis. This method is also complementary to the conventional mite counting method, particularly when a sufficient number of eyelashes cannot be effectively epilated.

Interface-Mediation-Enabled High-Performance Near-Infrared AgAuSe Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes.

Near-infrared (NIR) quantum dot (QD) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (NIR-QLEDs) for recognition and tracking applications underpin the future of night-vision technology. However, the performance of environmentally benign materials and devices has lagged far behind that of their Pb-containing counterparts. In this study, we demonstrate the superior performance of NIR-QLEDs based on efficient AgAuSe QDs with contact interface mediation. Consequently, we reveal that using cysteamine-treated QD film contact heterointerfaces can effectively eliminate contact defects in devices and preserve their excellent emissive properties. Additionally, the dipole moment orientation of the coordinated additives is inverse of the heterojunction potential difference, simultaneously blocking electrons and enhancing hole injection in operando, optimizing the LED charge injection balance. These devices exhibit a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.8 and 12.7% at 1046 nm, respectively, a sub-band gap turn-on voltage of 0.9 V, and a low current density (over 10% of the EQE from 0.0017 to 0.31 mA cm-2). These are the highest EQE and PCE values ever reported for environmentally benign NIR-QLEDs. The results of this study can provide a general strategy for the practical application of QDs in electroluminescent devices.

Anomalous efficiency elevation of quantum-dot light-emitting diodes induced by operational degradation.

Quantum-dot light-emitting diodes promise a new generation of high-performance and solution-processed electroluminescent light sources. Understanding the operational degradation mechanisms of quantum-dot light-emitting diodes is crucial for their practical applications. Here, we show that quantum-dot light-emitting diodes may exhibit an anomalous degradation pattern characterized by a continuous increase in electroluminescent efficiency upon electrical stressing, which deviates from the typical decrease in electroluminescent efficiency observed in other light-emitting diodes. Various in-situ/operando characterizations were performed to investigate the evolutions of charge dynamics during the efficiency elevation, and the alterations in electric potential landscapes in the active devices. Furthermore, we carried out selective peel-off-and-rebuild experiments and depth-profiling analyses to pinpoint the critical degradation site and reveal the underlying microscopic mechanism. The results indicate that the operation-induced efficiency increase results from the degradation of electron-injection capability at the electron-transport layer/cathode interface, which in turn leads to gradually improved charge balance. Our work provides new insights into the degradation of red quantum-dot light-emitting diodes and has far-reaching implications for the design of charge-injection interfaces in solution-processed light-emitting diodes.

[Progress and prospect of biological treatment for rotator cuff injury repair].

Objective: To review the research progress in biotherapy of rotator cuff injury in recent years, in order to provide help for clinical decision-making of rotator cuff injury treatment. Methods: The literature related to biotherapy of rotator cuff injury at home and abroad in recent years was widely reviewed, and the mechanism and efficacy of biotherapy for rotator cuff injury were summarized from the aspects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), growth factors, stem cells, and exosomes. Results: In order to relieve patients' pain, improve upper limb function, and improve quality of life, the treatment of rotator cuff injury experienced an important change from conservative treatment to open surgery to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair plus a variety of biotherapy methods have become the mainstream of clinical treatment. All kinds of biotherapy methods have ideal mid- and long-term effectiveness in the repair of rotator cuff injury. The biotherapy method to promote the healing of rotator cuff injury is controversial and needs to be further studied. Conclusion: All kinds of biotherapy methods show a good effect on the repair of rotator cuff injury. It will be an important research direction to further develop new biotherapy technology and verify its effectiveness.

Cardioprotective effect of epigallocatechin gallate in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis in preclinical animal studies.

This meta-analysis aims to determine the efficacy of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in the treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) and summarize the mechanisms involved. Literature from six databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan-Fang database, and VIP database (VIP) were systematically searched. All the analysis were conducted by R. Twenty-five eligible studies involving 443 animals were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that compared to controls, EGCG exerts a cardioprotective effect by reducing myocardial infarct size (SMD = -4.06; 95% CI: -5.17, -2.94; P < 0.01; I2 = 77%). The funnel plot revealed publication bias. Moreover, EGCG significantly improves cardiac function, serum myocardial injury enzyme, and oxidative stress levels in MIRI animal models. This meta-analysis demonstrates that EGCG exhibits therapeutic promise in animal models of MIRI. However, further validation is still needed in large animal models and large clinical studies.

Cardioprotective effect of curcumin on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: a meta-analysis of preclinical animal studies.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of curcumin in preventing myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in animal models. Methods: Studies published from inception to January 2023 were systematically searched in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China's National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan-Fang database, and VIP database (VIP). The SYRCLE's RoB tool was used to determine methodological quality. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were performed when there was high heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot. Results: Thirty-seven studies involving 771 animals were included in this meta-analysis with methodology quality scores ranging from 4 to 7. The results indicated that curcumin treatment significantly improved myocardial infarction size standard mean difference (SMD) = -5.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.94, -4.36; p < 0.01; I2 = 90%). The sensitivity analysis for infarct size showed that the results were stable and reliable. However, the funnel plot was asymmetric. The subgroup analysis included species, animal model, dose, administration, and duration. The results showed that the subgroup dose was statistically significant between subgroups. In addition, curcumin treatment improved cardiac function, myocardial injury enzymes, and oxidative stress levels in animal models of myocardial I/R injury. The funnel plot revealed that there is publication bias for creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. Finally, we performed a meta-analysis of inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis index. The results showed that curcumin treatment downregulated serum inflammatory cytokine levels and myocardial apoptosis index. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that curcumin has excellent potential for the treatment of myocardial I/R injury in animal models. However, this conclusion needs to be further discussed and verified in large animal models and human clinical trials. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022383901.

In Situ Solution-Processed Submicron Thick SiOx Cy /a-SiNx (O):H Composite Barrier Film for Polymer:Non-Fullerene Photovoltaics.

Aiming to improve the environmental stability of organic photovoltaics, a multilayered SiOx Cy /a-SiNx (O):H composite barrier film coated with a hydrophobic perfluoro copolymer stop layer for polymer:non-fullerene solar cells is developed. The composite film is prepared by spin-coating of polysilicone and perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) following a densification process by vacuum ultraviolet irradiation in an inert atmosphere. The transformation of polysilicone and PHPS to SiOx Cy and a-SiNx (O):H is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurement. However, the as-prepared PHPS-derived silicon nitride (PDSN) can react with moisture in the ambient atmosphere, yielding microscale defects and a consequent poor barrier performance. Treating the incomplete PDSN with methanol vapor significantly densifies the film yielding low water vapor transmission rates (WVTRs)of 5.0 × 10-1 and 2.0 × 10-1 g m-2  d-1 for the one- and three-couple of SiOx Cy /a-SiNx (O):H (CON) composite films, respectively. By incorporating a thin hydrophobic perfluoro copolymer layer, the three-coupled methanol-treated CON film with a total thickness of 600 nm shows an extremely low WVTR of 8.7 × 10-4 g m-2  d-1 . No performance decay is measured for the PM6:Y6 and PM6:L8-BO cells after such an encapsulation process. These encapsulated polymer cells show good stability storaged at 25 °C/50% relative humidity, or under simulated extreme rainstorm tests.

Open-Shell Diradical-Sensitized Electron Transport Layer for High-Performance Colloidal Quantum Dot Solar Cells.

The zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are well-documented as an excellent electron transport layer (ETL) in optoelectronic devices. However, the intrinsic surface flaw of the ZnO NPs can easily result in serious surface recombination of carriers. Exploring effective passivation methods of ZnO NPs is essential to maximize the device's performance. Herein, a hybrid strategy is explored for the first time to improve the quality of ZnO ETL by incorporating stable organic open-shell donor-acceptor type diradicaloids. The high electron-donating feature of the diradical molecules can efficiently passivate the deep-level trap states and improve the conductivity of ZnO NP film. The unique advantage of the radical strategy is that its passivation effectiveness is highly correlated with the electron-donating ability of radical molecules, which can be precisely controlled by the rational design of molecular chemical structures. The well-passivated ZnO ETL is applied in lead sulfide (PbS) colloidal quantum dot solar cells, delivering a power conversion efficiency of 13.54%. More importantly, as a proof-of-concept study, this work will inspire the exploration of general strategies using radical molecules to construct high-efficiency solution-processed optoelectronic devices.

Resveratrol in disease prevention and health promotion: A role of the gut microbiome.

Resveratrol is a bioactive polyphenolic compound mainly present in grapes and red wine. It is known to exert beneficial effects in various experimental settings, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and immunoregulatory. Accumulating evidence suggests these health benefits might be, at least partially, attributed to resveratrol's role in protecting the intestinal barrier, regulating the gut microbiome, and inhibiting intestinal inflammation. The purpose of this review is to examine the bioactivities of resveratrol in disease prevention and health promotion from the standpoint of regulating the gut microbiome. The article aims to provide additional insight into the potential applications of resveratrol in the food and nutraceutical industry.

miR-622 Counteracts the NUAK1-Induced Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation and the Antioxidative Stress.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC), a highly prevalent gastric cancer, has high-risk mortality. Thus, investigating strategies to counteract its growth is important to provide theoretical guidance for its prevention and treatment. It has been pointed out that abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) serves as noninvasive biomarkers for GC. This present study probed into the role of miR-622 and the NUAK family SNF1-like kinase 1 (NUAK1). Methods: Five mRNA datasets (GSE64916, GSE118916, GSE122401, GSE158662, and GSE159721) and one miRNA dataset (GSE128720) from the Gene Expression of Omnibus (GEO) database were used to analyze the differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNA in GC and noncancer samples. Further, western blot, real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay kit experiments, and wound healing assay, together with in vivo experiments, were performed. Results: miR-622 was downregulated, and NUAK1 was upregulated in GC, and NUAK1 was a potential target of miR-622. Knocking down NUAK1 decreased GC cell proliferation and migration but increased oxidative stress in vitro and inhibited the development of tumor in vivo, while miR-622 acted to suppress the action of NUAK1 through the miR-622/NUAK1/p-protein kinase B (Akt) axis, thereby inhibiting the occurrence of GC. Conclusion: miR-622 and NUAK1 demonstrated potential for being targets and biomarkers for GC treatment.

[Electroacupuncture pretreatment alleviates apoptosis of renal tubular epithelia cells by down-regulating expression of TRPC6 in hyperglycemic mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in mice with hyperglycemia, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying protecting the kidney from hyperglycemia-induced injury. METHODS: Eighty male C57BL/6 mice were equally and randomly divided into control, model, EA and sham EA groups. The hyperglycemia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ, 50 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 5 consecutive days. Before modeling, EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 0.3-0.5 mA) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Shenshu" (BL23) for 30 min, once daily for 7 days, while mice in the sham EA group were treated with the same acupoints but without electrical stimulation. The blood glucose values were measured after fasting for 6 hours after 3 days of modeling. The degree of renal tissue injury was observed by microscope after H.E. staining, and the apoptosis level of renal tubular epithelial cells observed by TUNEL staining. The expression levels of transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) and related apoptotic proteins Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 in the renal tissue were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, separately. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the blood glucose content and the expression levels of TRPC6, Caspase-3 and Bax proteins, as well as the level of the renal apoptotic cells were significantly increased (P<0.001, P<0.000 1), while the expression level of Bcl-2 protein and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax were remarkably decreased in the model group (P<0.000 1). In comparison with the model and sham EA groups, the blood glucose content, percentage of apoptotic cells and the expression levels of TRPC6, Caspase-3 and Bax were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.000 1, P<0.05, P<0.001), and the expression level of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax were apparently increased in the EA group (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001). HE statin showed abnormal dilation of the capillary lumen and disappearance of the proximal tubules in the model group, which was relatively milder in the EA group. CONCLUSION: EA pretreatment can lower blood glucose level and reduce renal apoptosis in hyperglycemia mice, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expression of TRPC6 and Caspase-3 and up-regulating the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.

Surgery for Primary Cardiac Tumors in Children: Successful Management of Large Fibromas.

Background: Pediatric primary cardiac tumors (PCTs) are rare. Its clinical features and prognoses are not well defined. The management of asymptomatic patients with cardiac fibromas remains controversial. Objective: We aimed to examine our experience in surgical resection of pediatric PCT, with specific focuses on the management of large fibromas. Methods: This study included all the children who underwent surgical resection of PCT in our institution between December 2008 and June 2021. The last follow-up was performed between June 1st and August 26th, 2021. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the postoperative survival, freedom from reoperation, event-free survival, and also related risk factors. The tumor volume and volume index (volume divided by body surface area) were measured for cardiac fibromas. Results: Of the 39 patients with median operative age of 9.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 1.2-16.5] years, 35 (89.7%) had benign tumors (fibromas for 15, myxomas for 13, and others for 7). The length and volume of fibromas were independent of age and symptoms (Ps > 0.05). The fibroma volume index was negatively correlated with age (P = 0.039), with a mean value of 105 ± 70 ml/m2. Of the 15 patients with fibromas, 5 were asymptomatic, 4 received partial resection, 4 required transmural resection, and 4 presented postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction <50%). During the median follow-up period of 3.1 years and maximum of 12.5 years, adverse events included 2 early and 1 late death, 4 reoperations, 4 tumor recurrences, and 1 LV dysfunction lasting over one year. The 8-year survival, freedom from reoperation, and event-free survival rates were 90.4, 81.8, and 64.2%, respectively. Malignant tumor (P < 0.001) was associated with more adverse events. Transmural resection (P = 0.022) and larger tumor volume index than LV end-diastolic volume (P = 0.046) were risk factors for LV dysfunction following fibromas resection. Conclusion: Pediatric surgery for PCT can be performed with low mortalities and few adverse events. The size of cardiac fibroma in children relatively decreases with the increase of age. Larger tumor volume index than LV end-diastolic volume index and transmural tumor resection predicts postoperative LV dysfunction.

Estimation of cost efficiency of fattening pigs, sows, and piglets using SFA approach analysis: Evidence from China.

The hog industry is the core industry in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry in China, which development is related to the improvement of people's quality of life. The production of the hog industry has been restricted by environmental regulations, which needs to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Based on the data of 29 provinces from 2008 to 2019, this paper aims to use the stochastic frontier analysis method to calculate the cost efficiency of fattening pigs, sows, and piglets in three stages of pig production and focuses on the impact of environmental regulation policies on cost efficiency. The study found that the cost efficiency of fattening pigs, sows, and piglets in China were 0.77, 0.79, and 0.53, respectively, and the efficiency losses were 23%, 21%, and 47%, respectively. The impact of environmental regulation policies on the cost efficiency of fattening pigs showed an ' N ' trend, and the impact on the cost efficiency of sows and piglets showed an inverted ' N ' trend. For fattening pigs, increasing the intensity of environmental regulation, and exceeding the second inflection point of the ' N ' curve can achieve the dual goals of environmental governance and cost reduction and efficiency increase. For sows, reducing the intensity of environmental regulation appropriately can avoid cost-efficiency loss. For piglets, environmental regulation policies have not effectively incentives the cost efficiency of piglets. In addition, raising the level of technology investment in fattening pigs and sows can achieve cost efficiency gains, and can farmers use emerging financial product tools such as ' insurance + futures ' to avoid market risks and efficiency losses.

Evaluating health-related quality of life in gastric cancer patients in Suzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become an important part of the evaluation of clinical efficacy and prognosis in gastric cancer. This study aimed to assess the HRQOL of patients with gastric cancer using the a five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) and explore the factors influencing patients' perceived quality of life. For those significant factors, we can take appropriate measures to intervene to extend patient survival and improve the quality of life. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to 243 patients with gastric cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University from December 2018 to December 2020. HRQOL was measured by the Chinese version of the EQ-5D-5L. Nonparametric test analyses and a Tobit regression model were used to identify the independent variables associated with the EQ-5D-5L utility scores. RESULTS: In this research, the mean score was 0.810, and the median was 0.893. Approximately 25% of patients reported no problems at all in any of the five dimensions. Problems in pain and discomfort were the most frequently reported (64.2%). Nonparametric test analyses showed that patients who did not have health insurance, or who had a history of alcohol use, a family history of cancer, had received surgery only, or had an interval of less than 1 week between taking this survey and their last treatment, demonstrated lower EQ-5D-5L scores. The Tobit regression model confirmed that health insurance, family history, and treatment were significantly associated with EQ-5D-5L scores. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQOL of gastric cancer patients can be measured by EQ-5D-5L, and the results may provide a guide for choosing an appropriate individualized treatment plan.

Metachronous pulmonary and pancreatic metastases arising from sigmoid colon cancer: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Metachronous pulmonary and pancreatic metastases from colorectal cancer are rare. The diagnosis of pancreatic metastases is difficult and predominantly relies on computed tomography, pathology and immunohistochemistry. Here, we describe the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for determination of the origin of metastasis and prognostic prediction of colorectal cancer. CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old man was diagnosed with sigmoid adenocarcinoma stage IIA (T3N0M0) and underwent surgery in April 2014, followed by XELOX adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient developed pulmonary metastasis in the right upper lung and underwent surgery in May 2016 without further adjuvant chemotherapy. In May 2018, pancreatic metastasis was found and he underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. After surgery, he was treated with adjuvant S-1 chemotherapy from June 2018 to March 2019. Histopathological review of the specimens from all three lesions indicated consistent patterns characteristic of colon cancer. Concordant gene mutation profiles were observed across the three lesions that included oncogenic driver mutations most frequently seen in colon cancer (e.g., APC, TP53, KRAS and FBXW7). Blood circulating tumor (ct)DNA before adjuvant chemotherapy was undetectable with NGS, suggesting a favorable response to chemotherapy. The patient was alive and well at the latest follow-up visit, achieving a disease-free survival of 17 mo. CONCLUSION: The genetic profiles of primary tumor, metastases and ctDNA may have clinical value in auxiliary diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic decision-making.