Observation based climatology Martian atmospheric waves perturbation Datasets.

The Martian atmospheric waves perturbation Datasets (MAWPD) version 2.0 is the first observation-based climatology dataset of Martian atmospheric waves. It contains climatology-gridded temperature, gravity waves, and tides spanning the whole Martian year. MAWPD uses the Data INterpolating Empirical Orthogonal Functions method (DINEOF) reconstruction method for data assimilation with the observational data from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN), Mars Pathfinder (MP), Mars Phoenix Lander (MPL), Mars Exploration Rover (MER) and Mars Express (MEX) temperature retrievals. The dataset includes gridded fields of temperature (Level 1 data) as well as the physical quantities of GWs (Level 2 data, amplitude, and potential energies), SPWs and tides (Level 2 data, amplitude, and phase). The MAWPD, based entirely on multiple reliable observations, provides climatological background atmospheric information of temperature and wave disturbances on Mars. The dataset is not only useful for observation-based scientific studies concerning Martian atmospheric waves, e.g., circulation, dust storms, and wave excitation mechanism, but also for cross-validating with model-based datasets or model results.

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous cryoablation for lung ground-glass opacity: A pilot study.

CONTEXT: Ground-glass opacity (GGO) is a nonspecific imaging parameter for early-stage pulmonary cancer. In these cases, a definite diagnosis and prompt surgery usually yield satisfactory outcomes. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of cryoablation treatment for lung GGO. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of 14 patients (19 lung tumors) with lung GGO and evaluated the adverse events, lung function, and treatment efficacy after cryoablation. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 13.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: None of the patients exhibited serious complications, and lung function recovered to >95% after 1 month. During a follow-up, computed tomography scan at 24 months, the GGO appeared to have been successfully ablated in all patients. CONCLUSION: Cryoablation may serve as a safe and feasible option for the treatment of GGO.

Irreversible electroporation combined with chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic carcinoma: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) combined with chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic carcinoma (stage III/IV). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 54 patients (30 men; median age 61.0 years; range 41-73 years) undergoing IRE with or without chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer between July 2015 and August 2016. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to analyze progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Safety was assessed based on the occurrence of adverse events. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent IRE. Major IRE-related complications were observed in four patients (7.4%). Gastrointestinal hemorrhage only developed in cases undergoing IRE via the open method, and was successfully managed with interventional embolization and/or vascular ligation. Any minor complications in the cases were alleviated within 14 days after symptomatic treatment. Overall, the performance status score decreased from 1.06 to 0.89 at 3 months after IRE (P<0.05). Among those with stage III disease, after a median follow-up of 18.8 months (range 9.6-28.7 months), the median OS from diagnosis was 16.2 and 20.3 months in the IRE and IRE + Chemo groups, respectively. Among those with stage IV disease, after a median follow-up of 13.3 months (range 3.7-23.1 months), the median OS from diagnosis was 11.6 and 13.56 months in the IRE and IRE + Chemo groups, respectively. The OS was significantly poorer in the IRE group than in the IRE + Chemo group (log-rank test, P=0.0398). CONCLUSION: Patients with pancreatic carcinoma could benefit from IRE, which improved the OS in certain patients who had also undergone chemotherapy. Although some severe complications were noted, IRE was generally well tolerated.

Safety and Short-Term Efficacy of Irreversible Electroporation and Allogenic Natural Killer Cell Immunotherapy Combination in the Treatment of Patients with Unresectable Primary Liver Cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) combined with allogenic natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy in the treatment of patients with unresectable primary liver cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2015 and December 2016, 40 patients were enrolled and randomly allocated to either the IRE group (n = 22) or the IRE-NK group (n = 18). All adverse events experienced by the patients were recorded; the changes in tumor biomarkers [AFP, CA 19-9, circulating tumor cells (CTCs)], lymphocyte number and function, quality of life, clinical response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. RESULTS: Patients who received combination therapy exhibited significantly longer median PFS and OS than who just received IRE (PFS 15.1 vs. 10.6 months, P < 0.05, OS 17.9 vs. 23.2 months, P < 0.05). The combination therapy of IRE and NK cell immunotherapy significantly reduced CTCs and increased immune function and Karnofsky performance status. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest a novel, promising combination therapy using IRE and allogenic NK cell immunotherapy. Larger clinical trials are required to confirm these conclusions.

Cryoablation with drug-loaded bead embolization in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: safety and efficacy analysis.

This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting bead (DEB) embolization (DEB-TACE) when combined with cryoablation in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study was a single-center randomized controlled trial comprised of 60 patients with HCC conducted between August 2015 and October 2017. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: DEB-TACE combined with cryoablation (DEB-TACE-Cryo group) or cryoablation alone (Cryo group). Inter-group differences in overall survival, progression-free survival, and adverse reactions were assessed. The operative success rates were 82.7% and 77.4% in the DEB-TACE-Cryo group and Cryo group, respectively, with no operative mortality. The overall survival and progression-free survival in the DEB-TACE-Cryo group were significantly higher than those in the Cryo group (16.8 months vs.13.4 months, P = 0.0493; 8.1 months vs. 6.0 months, P = 0.0089, respectively). The postoperative complications in the two groups were rated as grade 1 or grade 2, according to guidelines set by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0 (CTCAE V4.0). We demonstrated that DEB-TACE combined with cryoablation was effective, well tolerated, and had a low complication rate. Therefore, this combination therapy may be a better choice for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Safety of Irreversible Electroporation on Nerves Adjacent to Treated Tumors.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety of irreversible electroporation (IRE) on the sciatic nerve after IRE ablation of adjacent tumor. METHODS: In this study, VX2 tumors were implanted adjacent to the sciatic nerves in 26 New Zealand white rabbits. The rabbits were divided into 3 groups 10 days after implantation, with 2 treatment groups of 10 rabbits each and a control group of 6 rabbits. In 1 of the treatment groups (IRE-S group), the rabbits underwent ablation with a single IRE application, and in the other group (IRE-D group) the rabbits underwent 2 IRE applications. IRE ablation was performed under ultrasonographic guidance. The 26 rabbits were euthanized as follows: half of the animals in each group on the seventh day and the rest on the 28th day after IRE ablation. The sciatic nerves were removed for histopathologic evaluation immediately after euthanasia. Sections from selected specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome method for collagen; immunohistochemistry was performed for S100 and neurofilaments (markers for Schwann cells and axons, respectively). Clinical, radiologic, laboratory, and pathologic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The nerves from the IRE-S and IRE-D groups showed preserved endoneurial architecture and the presence of numerous small-caliber axons along with Schwann cell hyperplasia, consistent with axonal regeneration. The tumor lesions were completely necrosed. A fibrous scar was observed in the adjacent muscle tissue, confirming ablation at the site. Nerve damaged also showed in the control group for tumor advanced and no signs of repair; the tumor showed rapid progression. CONCLUSION: The nerves adjacent to the tumor may undergo severe damage after IRE ablation, but their function and structure can return to normal in a short time. IRE ablation may be a feasible treatment option for tumors situated adjacent to nerves.

Irreversible Electroporation Ablation of an Unresectable Fibrous Sarcoma With 2 Electrodes: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: To explore the safety and efficacy of irreversible electroporation ablation in unresectable fibrous sarcoma with 2 electrodes. METHODS: A 74-year-old woman with unresectable retroperitoneal malignant fibrous sarcoma was treated with percutaneous irreversible electroporation. Four ablations were performed on the mass, which measured 7.3 × 7.0 × 7.5 cm, with 2 electrodes. RESULTS: A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan 2 months postoperatively showed that the tumor had reduced to 5.1 × 4.0 × 5.2 cm, without obvious enhancement. Any adverse reactions were evaluated as level 1. CONCLUSION: In the short term, the treatment with 2 electrodes for fibrous sarcoma appears to be safe and effective.

Comparison between cryoablation and irreversible electroporation of rabbit livers at a location close to the gallbladder.

BACKGROUND: The ablation of liver tumors located close to the gallbladder is likely to lead to complications. The aim of this article is to compare the safety and efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) and cryoablation in rabbit livers at a location close to the gallbladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed cryoablation (n = 12) and IRE (n = 12) of the area of the liver close to the gallbladder in 24 New Zealand white rabbits in order to ensure gallbladder damage. Serum aminotransferase and serum bilirubin levels were measured before and after the ablation. Histopathological examination of the ablation zones in the liver and gallbladder was performed on the 7th day after the ablation. RESULT: Seven days after the ablation, all 24 animals were alive. Gallbladder perforation did not occur in the IRE group; only mucosal epithelial necrosis and serous layer edema were found in this group. Gallbladder perforation occurred in four rabbits in the cryoablation group. Serum aminotransferase and serum bilirubin levels obviously increased in both groups by Day 3 and decreased gradually thereafter. The elevation in aminotransferase and bilirubin levels was greater in the cryoablation group than the IRE group. Pathological examination revealed complete necrosis of the liver parenchyma from the ablation center to the gallbladder in both groups, but bile duct and granulation tissue hyperplasia were observed in only the IRE group. Full-thickness gallbladder-wall necrosis was seen in the cryoablation group. CONCLUSIONS: For ablation of the liver area near the gallbladder, IRE is superior to cryoablation, both in terms of safety (no gallbladder perforation in the IRE group) and efficacy (complete necrosis and rapid recovery in the IRE group).

Effect of NK cell immunotherapy on immune function in patients with hepatic carcinoma: A preliminary clinical study.

We investigated the effectiveness of adoptive transfer of KIR ligand-mismatched highly activated nature killer (HANK) cells in patients with hepatic carcinoma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained and cultured in vitro to induce expansion and activation of HANK cells. After 12 d of culture, the cells were divided into 3 parts and infused intravenously on days 13 to 15. The patients (n = 16) were given one to 6 courses of immunotherapy. No side effects were observed. The lymphocyte subsets and cytokine, thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and circulating tumor cell (CTC) levels were measured 1 day before treatment and 1 month after the final infusion: the absolute number of total T cells and NK cells and the IL-2 and TNF-ß levels were significantly higher, and the TK1 and CTC levels were significantly lower at 1 month after treatment. The percentage of patients who experienced partial response, disease stabilization, and disease progression at 3 months after treatment was 18.8%, 50.0% and 31.2%, respectively. The total follow-up period was 2-12 months. The median progression-free survival from treatment was 7.5 months. This is the first study on the benefits of HANK cell immunotherapy for hepatic carcinoma These encouraging preliminary observations imply that HANK cell immunotherapy is safe, can improve the immune function of patients with liver cancer, and may even reduce the rate of tumor metastasis and recurrence. However, further studies on larger samples of patients with a longer follow-up period are required to confirm these findings.