Advancing Evidence Generation for Circulating Tumor DNA: Lessons Learned from A Multi-Assay Study of Baseline Circulating Tumor DNA Levels across Cancer Types and Stages.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) holds promise as a biomarker for predicting clinical responses to therapy in solid tumors, and multiple ctDNA assays are in development. However, the heterogeneity in ctDNA levels prior to treatment (baseline) across different cancer types and stages and across ctDNA assays has not been widely studied. Friends of Cancer Research formed a collaboration across multiple commercial ctDNA assay developers to assess baseline ctDNA levels across five cancer types in early- and late-stage disease. This retrospective study included eight commercial ctDNA assay developers providing summary-level de-identified data for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), bladder, breast, prostate, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma following a common analysis protocol. Baseline ctDNA levels across late-stage cancer types were similarly detected, highlighting the potential use of ctDNA as a biomarker in these cancer types. Variability was observed in ctDNA levels across assays in early-stage NSCLC, indicative of the contribution of assay analytical performance and methodology on variability. We identified key data elements, including assay characteristics and clinicopathological metadata, that need to be standardized for future meta-analyses across multiple assays. This work facilitates evidence generation opportunities to support the use of ctDNA as a biomarker for clinical response.

Effect of prophylactic use of cefazolin in caesarean section on postoperative infection: A meta-analysis.

Caesarean section rate is increasing and postoperative wound infection is a major health-threatening complication after caesarean section (CS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Cefazolin at different time for post-caesarean delivery. The aim of this study was to compare the use of Cefazolin at different times on infections after CS. The time of antibiotic use in CS can be divided into two groups: before skin incision (SI) and after cord clamping (CC). In this study, 268 relevant articles were found in the database, and finally, 10 articles were analysed. This study included a total of 5256 cases of caesarean section. The data on wound infections, endometritis, urinary tract infections and fever were analysed. Perform an analysis of the data using RevMan 5.3. The results showed that cefazolin before SI reduced wound infection compared to after CC (odds ratio [OR], 0.51; 95% CI: 0.37-0.69; p < 0.0001). Cefazolin prophylactically used before SI reduce endometritis after CS compared to after CC (OR, 0.52; 95% CI: 0.35-0.77; p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in urinary tract infections after CS between cefazolin prophylactically used before SI and after CC (OR, 0.80; 95% CI: 0.50-11.28; p = 0.35). There was no significant difference in fever after CS between the prophylactic use of cefazolin before SI and after CC (OR, 0.60; 95% CI: 0.26-11.43; p = 0.225). Cefazolin before SI reduces wound infection and endometritis after CS.

Thermodynamic and thermo-economic analyses of a coupled heat-pump system for low-grade exhaust-air heat exchange in mines.

Combining mine exhaust waste heat with existing heat pump technology is a promising technical route to realise the efficient extraction and scientific use of low-grade waste heat resources in mines and to solve the problem of insufficient heat supply in remote mining areas. This study proposes a new type of mine-exhaust-air heat exchange coupled with heat-pump waste-heat-utilisation system based on deep enthalpy heat extraction. Using a mining area in Northwest China as a representative case, this study establishes a systematic exergy analytical model and a thermo-economic model. Through an in-depth analysis of the different evaporation temperatures and condensing temperatures, the system's energy efficiency ratio (COP) reaches its optimal performance, with the total exergy efficiency surpassing 90%. The minimum efficiency of the subsystem return air heat exchanger is 35%. The unit thermal costs of the mine exhaust air waste heat utilisation system and a conventional coal-fired boiler system are 0.1291 and 0.1573 million RMB/kW·h, respectively. This is a thermal economics cost saving of 21%. The studied system demonstrates great economic viability and the potential for energy saving throughout its life cycle.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Improves Normal Fertilization Rate and Clinical Pregnancy Rate in Male Infertility.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on the normal fertilization rate of oocytes and the clinical pregnancy rate of cycles in male infertility. Eighty cases of male infertility patients attending our hospital from March 2020 to March 2021 were selected and divided into observation group and control group using the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was treated with in vitro fertilization (IVF), and the observation group was treated with ICSI. The normal fertilization rate of oocytes and the clinical pregnancy rate of the cycle were compared between the two groups, and the adverse pregnancy outcome and obstetric and perinatal complications were compared between the two groups The rate of normal fertilization and clinical pregnancy in the cycle was higher in the observation group (P < 0.05). The differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) when comparing adverse pregnancy outcomes between the two groups. The difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) when comparing obstetrics (5.41%, 10.34%) and perinatal complications (8.33%, 14.81%) between the two groups. ICSI in male infertility is significantly effective in improving the rate of normal oocyte fertilization and the clinical pregnancy rate of the cycle. It also has a low impact on adverse pregnancy outcomes and obstetric and perinatal complications and has a high safety profile.

Calcitonin and Bone Physiology: In Vitro, In Vivo, and Clinical Investigations.

Calcitonin was discovered as a peptide hormone that was known to reduce the calcium levels in the systemic circulation. This hypocalcemic effect is produced due to multiple reasons such as inhibition of bone resorption or suppression of calcium release from the bone. Thus, calcitonin was said as a primary regulator of the bone resorption process. This is the reason why calcitonin has been used widely in clinics for the treatment of bone disorders such as osteoporosis, hypercalcemia, and Paget's disease. However, presently calcitonin usage is declined due to the development of efficacious formulations of new drugs. Calcitonin gene-related peptides and several other peptides such as intermedin, amylin, and adrenomedullin (ADM) are categorized in calcitonin family. These peptides are known for the structural similarity with calcitonin. Aside from having a similar structure, these peptides have few overlapping biological activities and signal transduction action through related receptors. However, several other activities are also present that are peptide specific. In vitro and in vivo studies documented the posttreatment effects of calcitonin peptides, i.e., positive effect on bone osteoblasts and their formation and negative effect on osteoclasts and their resorption. The recent research studies carried out on genetically modified mice showed the inhibition of osteoclast activity by amylin, while astonishingly calcitonin plays its role by suppressing osteoblast and bone turnover. This article describes the review of the bone, the activity of the calcitonin family of peptides, and the link between them.

Feasibility and effectiveness of thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

The outcomes of minimally invasive thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) still need to be defined. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy in patients with early peripheral NSCLC.This was a retrospective study of patients with early peripheral NSCLC admitted between January 2013 and January 2017. Patients were divided into the segmentectomy and lobectomy groups (40/group), according to the surgery they underwent. Blood loss, operation time, removal of drainage tube time, inflammatory response after operation, postoperative complications, postoperative lung function, local recurrence, and survival were compared.Blood loss and removal of drainage tube time were not significantly different between the 2 groups (all P > .05). Operation time in the segmentectomy group was longer than in the lobectomy group (P < .001). The postoperative interleukin-6, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein changes in the segmentectomy group were significantly lower than in the lobectomy group (all P < .001). The pulmonary function at 2 weeks was significantly reduced in the 2 groups (all P < .001), but it was better in the segmentectomy group than in the lobectomy group (all P < .05). The 1- and 3-year local recurrence disease-free, and overall survival rates were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P > .05). The multivariable analysis could not identify any factor associated with local recurrence or survival (all P > .05).Thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy and lobectomy are both acceptable for the treatment of early peripheral NSCLC, but segmentectomy was associated with lower postoperative inflammation and better postoperative pulmonary function than lobectomy.

Evemphyron sinense, a new genus and species infesting legume seedpods in China (Coleoptera, Attelabidae, Rhynchitinae).

A new genus Evemphyron Alonso-Zarazaga, Lv & Wang, gen. n., belonging to Attelabidae Rhynchitinae, is described. Its single species, Evemphyron sinense Alonso-Zarazaga, Lv & Wang, sp. n., was reared from larvae found inside seed pods of the legume Callerya dielsiana (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Sichuan Province (China). The species is figured and placed in the Deporaini because of the presence of minute labial palpi, the strongly crescentic apex of the postmentum, and the apodemes of male IX sternite and female VIII sternite curved sinistro-anterially near their cephalic end. It shows 3-segmented labial palpi and male sex patches on the procoxae, characters that suggest a basal position in the tribe.

The mechanism of mesna in protection from cisplatin-induced ovarian damage in female rats.

OBJECTIVE: Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of cancers in clinic; but it often induces adverse effects on ovarian functions such as reduced fertility and premature menopause. Mesna could attenuate the cisplatin-induced ovarian damages; however, the underlying mechanism is still unknown. This study aimed to figure out the underlying mechanism of the protection of mesna for ovaries against cisplatin therapy in cancers. METHODS: We performed female adult Sprague-Dawley rats into normal saline control (NS), low-dose cisplatin (CL), high-dose cisplatin (CH), CL plus mesna (CL+M), and CH plus mesna (CH+M) groups and detected anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)-positive follicle, oxidative stress status and anti-oxidative capability in ovaries. RESULTS: AMH-positive follicles were significantly decreased after cisplatin administration, which was significantly reversed when mesna was co-administered with cisplatin. The end product of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), was significantly increased, but the anti-oxidative enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly decreased in cisplatin groups when compared with NS group. In contrast, after co-administration of cisplatin with mesna, MDA was significantly decreased whereas the activity of SOD and the concentration of GSH were increased. Moreover, mesna did not decrease the anti-tumor property of cisplatin in HePG2 cell lines. CONCLUSION: Cisplatin damages the granulosa cells by oxidative stress to deplete the ovarian reserve and mesna could protect ovarian reserve through anti-oxidation. These results might highlight the mechanism of the protection of mesna for ovarian reserve and open an avenue for the application of mesna as a protective additive in cisplatin chemotherapy in clinical practise.