Constitutive Model for Equivalent Stress-Plastic Strain Curves Including Full-Range Strain Hardening Behavior of High-Strength Steel at Elevated Temperatures.

High-strength steel has been increasingly applied to engineering structures and inevitably faces fire risks. The equivalent stress-plastic strain (σeq- εeqp) curves of steel at elevated temperatures are indispensable if a refined finite element model is used to investigate the response of steel members and structures under fire. If the tensile deformation of steel is considerable, the σeq- εeqp curves at elevated temperatures are required to consider the strain-hardening behavior during the post-necking phase. However, there is little research on the topic. Based on the engineering stress-strain curves of Q890 high-strength steel in a uniaxial tension experiment at elevated temperatures, the σeq-εeqp curves before necking are determined using theoretical formulations. An inverse method based on finite element analysis is used to determine the σeq- εeqp curves during the post-necking phase. The characteristics of σeq-εeqp curves, including the full-range strain hardening behavior at different temperatures, are discussed. An equivalent stress-plastic strain model of Q890 steel at elevated temperature is proposed, which is consistent with the σeq-εeqp curves. The constitutive model is further verified by comparing the finite element analysis and test results.

Safety and Effectiveness of High-Precision Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Perfusion Chemotherapy in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: A Real-World Study.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been reported to effectively control peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) in various patient populations, but there is a lack of real-world data. This study aimed to examine the safety and effectiveness of HIPEC in patients with PC in a real-world setting. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with PC treated with the high-precision BR-TRG-I type HIPEC device between December 2006 and December 2016. Vital signs during HIPEC and adverse events were recorded. Effectiveness was evaluated by total objective remission rate (ORR), which was based on ascites' remission 4 weeks after HIPEC. RESULTS: A total of 1,200 patients were included. There were 518 males and 682 females, with a mean age of 58.6 ± 6.5 years (range, 32-76 years). Among the patients, 93.6% of the patients (1123/1200) successfully received the three sessions of HIPEC, 158 had massive ascites. The changes of vital signs during HIPEC were within acceptable ranges, and patients only had a transient fever and abdominal distension. Regarding the HIPEC-related complications, hemorrhage was observed in seven (0.6%) patients, anastomotic leakage in four (0.5%), and intestinal obstruction in eight (0.7%). Nine (0.8%, 9/1200) patients had CTCAE grade IV bone marrow suppression, and three (0.3%, 3/1200) patients had severe renal failure (SRF), which were considered to be drug-related. The ORR of malignant ascites was 95.6% (151/158). CONCLUSION: This real-world study strongly suggests that HIPEC was safe in treating PC patients with a low rate of adverse events and leads to benefits in PC patients with massive malignant ascites.

Potential value of MicroRNA-21 as a biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients with breast cancer: A protocol for meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: The latest global cancer data from 2020 shows that breast cancer has replaced lung cancer as the number one cancer in the world. Searching for new biomarkers of breast cancer has important clinical significance for early diagnosis, prediction of prognosis, and targeted therapy. MicroRNA-21 (miRNA-21) can be used as a new molecular marker for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of tumors. However, the expression of miRNA-21 in breast cancer and its prognosis are not clear. Therefore, this study conducted a meta-analysis to further clarify the relationship between the expression of miRNA-21 in breast cancer and prognosis. At the same time, we carried out bioinformatics analysis to further analyze the possible molecular mechanism of miRNA-21, so as to provide potential clinical indicators for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and other databases were used to retrieve the published relevant literatures. Include the eligible research, extract the survival data hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals and other information. STATA16.0 software was used for meta-analysis. Download the miRNA data of breast cancer through the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The data extracted for independent sample t test and ROC curve was drawn. OncomiR plotted the survival curve of miRNA-21 on the prognosis of breast cancer. The target genes of miRNA-21 were predicted, and the Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were analyzed. STRING database and Cytoscape construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to obtain Hub gene. The correlation between the expression level of Hub gene in breast cancer and the abundance of immune cell infiltration was analyzed by TIMER database and verified by Kaplan-Meien plotter database. RESULTS: The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. CONCLUSION: In this study, meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis were used to further explore the prognosis, mechanism, and related pathways of miRNA-21 in breast cancer. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The private information from individuals will not be published. This systematic review also should not damage participants' rights. Ethical approval is not available. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated in relevant conferences. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/R32A9.

Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for malignant ascites from colorectal cancer - a randomized study.

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of different timings of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in controlling malignant ascites caused by peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is not well defined. The study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of different timings of CRS with HIPEC for malignant ascites caused by peritoneal carcinomatosis from CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a preliminary randomized controlled study performed at the Intracelom Hyperthermic Perfusion Therapy Center of the Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (China) from December 2008 to December 2016. The patients were randomized to: CRS, followed by HIPEC (CRS+HIPEC; n = 14), and ultrasound-guided HIPEC, followed by CRS 1 to 2 weeks later (HIPEC+ delayed cytoreductive surgery (dCRS) group, n = 14). The endpoints were complete remission rate of ascites, successful complete CRS rate, and overall survival. RESULTS: Malignant ascites in all patients showed complete remission; the total effective rate was 100%. Complete CRS was not feasible in any patient. The median follow-up of the 2 groups was 41.9 and 42.3 months in the CRS+HIPEC and HIPEC+dCRS groups, respectively. Overall survival was 14.5 (95%CI: 7-19 months) and 14.3 months (95%CI: 4-21 months) (P > .05). The adverse effects of HIPEC were manageable. CONCLUSIONS: CRS+HIPEC and HIPEC+dCRS have the same efficacy in controlling malignant ascites caused by CRC and peritoneal carcinomatosis. The timing of CRS and HIPEC does not prolong the survival of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from CRC, even when a complete CRS is not feasible.

Prognostic and Therapeutic Significance of Adhesion-regulating Molecule 1 in Estrogen Receptor-positive Breast Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Adhesion-regulating molecule 1 (ADRM1) is a polyubiquitin receptor on the 26S proteasome. ADRM1 is upregulated in many cancers. In this study, we evaluated the potential prognostic and predictive value of ADRM1 in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual and pooled survival analyses were performed on 19 independent breast cancer microarray datasets. Gene signatures enriched by ADRM1 were also analyzed in pooled datasets. RESULTS: Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that high expression of ADRM1 was significantly associated with aggressive breast cancer. Our findings revealed that ADRM1 mRNA levels were significantly associated with estrogen receptor (ER) status, progesterone receptor status, tumor size, lymph node status, histologic grade, and molecular subtypes. We also found that higher mRNA ADRM1 expression was significantly correlated with poor survival in patients with breast cancer. The prognostic power of ADRM1 mRNA was similar to the 70-gene wound response genes and 21 gene recurrence score; it was superior to TNM staging. The prognostic value of ADRM1 was better in ER-positive (ER+) breast cancer cases than in ER-negative breast cancer cases. In cases involving stage II breast cancer, radiotherapy significantly reduced the relative risk of OS in the ADRM1-low subgroup. CONCLUSION: ADRM1 mRNA levels were significantly related to poor outcome in our breast cancer sample population. It could serve as a prognostic biomarker, especially in ER+ breast cancer and Luminal A breast cancer cases, as well as a predictive biomarker for ER+ breast cancer.

Development of a high-precision bladder hyperthermic intracavitary chemotherapy device for bladder cancer and pharmacokinetic study.

BACKGROUND: Bladder hyperthermic intracavitary chemotherapy (HIVEC) has good effectiveness for bladder cancer, but conventional HIVEC systems lack precision and convenient application. To test the safety of a new HIVEC device (BR-TRG-II-type) in pigs and to perform a preliminary clinical trial in patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: This device was tested on six pigs to optimize the temperature and time parameters. Then, 165 patients (HIVEC after transurethral resection (TUR), n = 128; or HIVEC, n = 37) treated between December 2006 and December 2016 were recruited. Mitomycin C (MMC) was the chemotherapeutic agent. A serum pharmacokinetic study was performed. The primary endpoints were tumor recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and cumulative incidence rate (CIR) during follow-up. The adverse effects were graded. RESULTS: The animal experiment showed that 45 °C for 1 h was optimal. HIVEC was successful, with the infusion tube temperature stably controlled at about 45 °C, and outlet tube temperature of about 43 °C in all patients, for three sessions. Serum MMC levels gradually increased during HIVEC and decreased thereafter. The mean DFS was 39 ± 3.21 months (ranging from 8 to 78 months), and the DFS rate was 89.1% during follow-up. No adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: The use of the BR-TRG-II-type HIVEC device is feasible for the treatment of bladder cancer. Future clinical trials in patients with different stages of bladder cancer will further confirm the clinical usefulness of this device. TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR1900022099 (registered on Mar. 252,019). Retrospectively registered.

P-Selectin Level at First and Third Day After Portal Hypertensive Splenectomy for Early Prediction of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Cirrhosis.

We aimed to investigate the changes in p-selectin (p-sel), thrombus precursor protein, and D-dimer (D-D) in patients with cirrhosis after portal hypertensive splenectomy and explore its values on the prediction of postoperative portal vein thrombosis (PVT) formation. A total of 144 patients with cirrhosis with portal hypertension who underwent portal hypertensive splenectomy from January 2009 to December 2016 were enrolled in this study and divided into the thrombus and nonthrombus groups. The levels of p-sel, thrombus precursor protein (TpP), and D-D were measured by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoturbidimetry, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and other values for p-sel, TpP, and D-D were calculated. The linear discriminant, logistic regression, and decision tree methods were used to analyze the p-sel value on the prediction of PVT formation. Seventy-nine patients were confirmed having postoperative PVT, with the incidence rate of 54.86%. No significant differences were observed in the p-sel, TpP, and D-D between the thrombus and nonthrombus groups before surgery, but these 3 indexes were obviously elevated in the thrombus group after operation (P < .01). P-selectin level on first day showed the highest positive predictive value (91.0%) and diagnostic coincidence rate (83.3%), while negative expected value (76.6%) was lower than those of TpP and D-D. Multiple analyses showed the prediction accuracy of PVT was 61.1% (P = .023), 97.2% (P < .001), and 97.2% (P < .001), respectively. P-selectin has a significant value in predicting PVT. P-selectin level on first and third day is valuable and feasible for the early prediction of PVT.

Asparaginyl endopeptidase enhances pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell invasion in an exosome-dependent manner and correlates with poor prognosis.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal types of cancer; owing to low early detection rates and high metastasis rates, it is associated with an extremely poor prognosis. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie its metastasis and the identification of potential prognostic biomarkers are urgently required. Although high expression levels of asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) have been detected in various types of solid tumor, the expression and functions of AEP in pancreatic carcinomas have yet to be determined. The present study aimed to examine the putative functions of AEP in pancreatic carcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that AEP was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Patients with high AEP expression exhibited a significantly shorter overall survival time. Results from multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that AEP was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that knockdown of AEP expression significantly reduced the invasive ability of pancreatic cancer cells, whereas overexpression of AEP increased the invasive ability. In addition, AEP was detected in exosomes that were derived from cultured pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells (PDACs) and in the serum from patients with PDAC. The Matrigel-Transwell invasion assay revealed that exosomes enriched with AEP were able to enhance the invasive ability of PDAC cells, whereas exosomes lacking AEP decreased the invasive ability. Furthermore, results from the present study suggested that AEP may be crucial for activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/RAC­α serine/threonine-protein kinase signaling pathway in PDAC cells. The present study data indicated that high AEP expression may be important for pancreatic carcinoma progression in an exosome-dependent manner, and that AEP may be an independent indicator of poor prognosis in patients with PDAC and may be a novel prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target in pancreatic carcinoma.

Characterization of two highly similar CBF/DREB1-like genes, PhCBF4a and PhCBF4b, in Populus hopeiensis.

The C-repeat binding factors (CBFs)/dehydration-responsive element-binding protein (DREBs) are a group of conserved transcription factors that play an important role in the response and adaptation to environmental stress in many plants. Two highly similar CBF/DREB1-like genes, PhCBF4a and PhCBF4b, were previously identified in Populus hopeiensis. In this paper, we describe the function of these proteins in detail in terms of abiotic stress tolerance. Phylogenic analysis suggests that PhCBF4a and PhCBF4b are expressed as two distinct alleles. Expression of both genes is induced mainly by dehydration, low-temperature, and high-salinity. Agroinfiltration experiments in tobacco leaves revealed differential transcriptional activation of the genes, likely driven by differences in their C-terminal regions. When constitutively expressed in Arabidopsis, PhCBF4a and PhCBF4b induced elevated expression of the CBF/DREB1 regulons without prior stimulus, resulting in dwarfism, delayed flowering, and greater drought tolerance compared with vector controls. These results demonstrate that PhCBF4a and PhCBF4b are functional transcriptional regulators involved in the response of P. hopeiensis to abiotic stresses.

Wound healing after mesh inner embedding and outer binding pancreaticojejunostomy in piglets.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to introduce a novel technique of pancreaticojejunostomy, namely, mesh inner embedding and outer binding pancreaticojejunostomy, and to evaluate wound healing after this operation in piglets. METHODS: Thirty-six domestic piglets were randomly divided into 2 groups after pancreaticoduodenectomy: the mesh inner embedding and outer binding pancreaticojejunostomy group (n = 18) and the conventional double-deck invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy group (n = 18). Bursting pressure and breaking strength were assessed on the operative day and on days 7 and 14 postoperatively. The pathologic findings and collagen content of the anastomotic site were evaluated on days 7 and 14 postoperatively. RESULTS: Both the bursting pressure and breaking strength were significantly higher in the mesh inner embedding and outer binding pancreaticojejunostomy group than in the double-deck invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy group on days 0, 7, and 14 (P < .01). The collagen content of the anastomotic site was significantly higher in the mesh inner embedding and outer binding pancreaticojejunostomy group than in the double-deck invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy group on days 7 and 14 postoperatively (P < .01). The anastomotic site was more completely repaired by connective and granulation tissue in the mesh inner embedding and outer binding pancreaticojejunostomy group on day 7 than in the double-deck invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy group. CONCLUSION: Mesh inner embedding and outer binding pancreaticojejunostomy significantly enhanced the anastomotic firmness and sped up the wound healing process compared with conventional mesh inner embedding and outer binding pancreaticojejunostomy. Therefore, it may decrease the risk of pancreatic fistulas after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Primary versus secondary splenic pedicle dissection in laparoscopic splenectomy for splenic diseases.

BACKGROUND: Some areas of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS), such as the approach to splenic pedicle dissection, remain controversial. Here we recommend a technique for dissecting the secondary splenic pedicle vessels on the basis of analysis of retrospective data. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review (April 2006 to October 2011) of databases at 2 institutions identified 136 patients who had undergone LS. In 34 patients with massive splenomegaly, primary splenic pedicle dissection technique (PSPD) had been used in 19 patients and secondary splenic pedicle dissection technique (SSPD) had been used in 15 patients. In 102 patients with normal-sized spleen or moderate splenomegaly, PSPD had been used in 56 patients and SSPD in 46 patients. We compared perioperative and follow-up data. RESULTS: Laparoscopic splenectomy was completed in 128 patients. In the massive splenomegaly group, the conversion rate was 5.3% for PSPD and 33.3% for SSPD, the complication rate was 42.1% vs 20%, hospital stay was 3.2 ± 2.0 days vs 7.5 ± 3.5 days, and transfusion requirement was 1.1 ± 1.2 U vs 3.2 ± 0.9 U, respectively. However, in the normal or moderate splenomegaly group, except for complications, there were no significant differences between PSPD and SSPD techniques in perioperative findings. In the 2 groups, there were significant differences between the PSPD and SSPD techniques in pancreatic leakage (15.8% vs 0 and 8.9% vs 0, respectively) and postoperative fever (15.8% vs 6.7% and 10.7% vs 2.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Secondary splenic pedicle dissection can decrease the incidence of splenic fever and pancreatic leakage and is a valuable technique for LS for normal-sized spleen or moderate splenomegaly. It is not a safe procedure for massive splenomegaly because of the high conversion rate.