Purification of Circulating Tumor Cells Based on Multiantibody-Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles and Molecular Analysis toward Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Detection.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are valuable circulating biomarkers of cancer, which carry primary tumor information and may provide real-time assessment of tumor status as well as treatment response in cancer patients. Herein, we developed a novel assay for accurate diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) using CTC RNA analysis. Multiantibody-modified magnetic nanoparticles were prepared for purification of EOC CTCs from whole blood samples of clinical patients. Subsequently, nine EOC-specific mRNAs of purified CTCs were quantified using droplet digital PCR. The EOC CTC Score was generated using a multivariate logistic regression model for each sample based on the transcripts of the nine genes. This assay exhibited a distinguishing diagnostic performance for the detection of EOC (n = 17) from benign ovarian tumors (n = 30), with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.96 (95% CI = 0.91-1.00). Moreover, dynamic changes of the EOC CTC Score were observed in patients undergoing treatment, demonstrating the potential of the assay for monitoring EOC. In conclusion, we present an accurate assay for the diagnosis and monitoring of EOC via CTC RNA analysis, and the results suggest that it may provide a promising solution for the detection and treatment response assessment of EOC.

Grading Characteristics of Texaco Gasification Fine Slag: Quality Distinction and Selective Distribution of Trace Elements.

Aiming at hard-to-reuse gasification fine slag, a new process of treating gasification fine slag by classification was presented. The screening treatment was carried out based on ensuring the original particle size composition of fine slag, and it was divided into six particle size ranges as follows: +0.5, 0.3-0.5, 0.125-0.3, 0.074-0.125, 0.045-0.074, and -0.045 mm. The physical properties of different size range samples were examined by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, cold field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectrometry. The results showed that the carbon content of the median section (0.125-0.3 mm) fine slag had significant improvement compared with the other section fine slag. The carbon distribution of the +0.125 mm fine slag was concentrated, while the carbon distribution of -0.125 mm was dispersed and closely mixed with minerals. The content of trace elements Cr, Mn, Ni, V, Cd, Pb, and Mo was determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and the correlation between minerals and trace elements of different particle size-graded fine slag was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. The results suggested that high vaporization temperature and metallic oxide forms of trace elements had a strong correlation with feldspar.