Ultrabroadband and >93% Microwave Absorption Enabled by "Doped" Water Meta-Atom Lattice with Subwavelength Thickness.

Perfect microwave absorbers, which absorb electromagnetic waves completely, play pivotal roles in electromagnetic shielding, and stealth technologies. Existing microwave absorber technologies rely on either electromagnetic properties of absorptive materials, the resonance behavior of meta-atoms, or a combination of both. So far, achieving simultaneous broadband absorption, high efficiency, and compact sizes remains a great challenge. Inspired by atomic doping techniques employed in conventional optical materials to broaden spectral bandwidths, a single-layer microfluidic metasurface microwave absorber is proposed with the assembly of two distinct types of water meta-atoms. By manipulating electromagnetic resonances of these water meta-atoms, the metasurface maintains impedance matching over a broad working range. A microwave absorber design with a thickness equivalent to 0.2 times the central wavelength is showcased, measuring over 93% absorption across both K and Ka bands (17.5-40.0 GHz). The results highlight unprecedented superiorities of microwave absorbers based on a 2D doped water meta-atom lattice when compared to previously reported metasurface absorbers utilizing identical meta-atoms. This absorber has advantages including small thickness, broad bandwidth, and cost-effectiveness, making it promising for applications in electromagnetic shielding, camouflage, and multi-spectral stealth.

Survival and cardiovascular disease mortality among primary liver cancer patients: A population-based study.

Background: The prognosis of primary liver cancer (PLC) was influenced by death due to non-cancer causes, particularly death related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to analyze mortality of non-cancer causes and identify the independent risk factors associated with CVD-related deaths in PLC patients. Methods: In total, 112140 patients were enrolled from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2000-2019). Independent risk factors for death from CVD in patients with PLC were identified by Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The median follow-up time of all PLC patients was 76 months (interquartile range (IQR): 36-129). The median overall survival (OS) was 12 months (IQR: 3-40). Patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) had shorter OS than patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (8 vs. 14 months; P < 0.001). A total of 87299 deaths were observed, among which 61477 (70.42 % of all deaths) were from PLC, and 12727 (14.58 % of all deaths) were from other cancers. Of all non-cancer deaths (9276, 10.63 %), 2860(30.86 %) were results of CVD. PLC patients had higher risks on CVD-related deaths, compared with general population (standard mortality ratio, SMR, 2.20; 95 % confidence interval, CI, 2.12-2.28). Typically, the highest SMRs appeared in the first year following cancer diagnosis. The multivariable analysis revealed the characteristics listed as followed to be independently risk factors of CVD: age, male (hazard ratio, HR: 1.248, 95%CI: 1.147-1.359), black race (HR: 1.334, 95%CI: 1.195-1.490), year 2016-2019 of diagnosis (HR 0.758, 95%CI: 0.671-0.856), ICC (HR: 1.202, 95%CI: 1.086-1.330), without surgery (HR: 2.479, 95%CI: 2.266-2.711) and without chemotherapy (HR: 2.211, 95%CI: 2.033-2.403). Conclusion: It is essential to take cardiovascular health into consideration at the time of diagnosis for PLC patients as the risk of CVD mortality is significantly higher than that of general population.

Learning lightweight tea detector with reconstructed feature and dual distillation.

Currently, image recognition based on deep neural networks has become the mainstream direction of research; therefore, significant progress has been made in its application in the field of tea detection. Many deep models exhibit high recognition rates in tea leaves detection. However, deploying these models directly on tea-picking equipment in natural environments is impractical; the extremely high parameters and computational complexity of these models make it challenging to perform real-time tea leaves detection. Meanwhile, lightweight models struggle to achieve competitive detection accuracy; therefore, this paper addresses the issue of computational resource constraints in remote mountain areas and proposes Reconstructed Feature and Dual Distillation (RFDD) to enhance the detection capability of lightweight models for tea leaves. In our method, the Reconstructed Feature selectively masks the feature of the student model based on the spatial attention map of the teacher model; it utilizes a generation block to force the student model to generate the teacher's full feature. The Dual Distillation comprises Decoupled Distillation and Global Distillation. Decoupled Distillation divides the reconstructed feature into foreground and background features based on the Ground-Truth. This compels the student model to allocate different attention to foreground and background, focusing on their critical pixels and channels. However, Decoupled Distillation leads to the loss of relation knowledge between foreground and background pixels. Therefore, we further perform Global Distillation to extract this lost knowledge. Since RFDD only requires loss calculation on feature map, it can be easily applied to various detectors. We conducted experiments on detectors with different frameworks, using a tea dataset collected at the Huangshan Houkui Tea Plantation. The experimental results indicate that, under the guidance of RFDD, the student detectors have achieved performance improvements to varying degrees. For instance, a one-stage detector like RetinaNet (ResNet-50) experienced a 3.14% increase in Average Precision (AP) after RFDD guidance. Similarly, a two-stage model like Faster RCNN (ResNet-50) obtained a 3.53% improvement in AP. This offers promising prospects for lightweight models to efficiently perform real-time tea leaves detection tasks.

Predictive performance of Metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing in early detection of post-liver transplantation infections.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in identifying and predicting pulmonary infections following liver transplantation and to investigate its association with patient outcomes within the initial four-week post-transplantation period. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 41 liver transplant patients with suspected pulmonary infections from August 2022 to May 2023. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected on the first postoperative day for metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) and culture. The predictive capability of mNGS for subsequent infections was assessed by monitoring inflammatory biomarkers and comparing the detection rates with culture methods. Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Rt-PCR) was used to monitor Human betaherpesvirus 5 (CMV) and Human parvovirus B19 (B19) weekly during a four-week postoperative period. Inflammatory biomarkers and blood coagulation function were evaluated on specific days throughout the first, third, fifth, and during four weeks following surgery. The study was conducted until August 2023 to evaluate the patients' prognostic survival outcome, classifying them into groups based on the mortality and survival. Results: The analysis included a total of 41 patients, comprising 32 males and 9 females, with an average age of 52 (47, 63) years. Within one week after liver transplantation, there were 7 cases of bacterial infections, 5 cases of fungal infections, 19 cases of mixed infections, 8 cases without any infection, and 2 cases with unidentified pathogen-associated infections. mNGS successfully predicted 39 (72 %) strains of pathogens, while culture-based methods only detected 28 (52 %) strains. Among the 8 patients diagnosed as non-infected, culture methods identified positive results in 4 cases (50 %), whereas mNGS yielded positive results in 7 cases (87.5 %). The detection rates of CMV and B19 by Rt-PCR within 4 weeks after liver transplantation were 61 % and 17 %, respectively (25/41, 7/41) among the patients. During the study period, a total of 9 patients succumbed while 32 patients survived. The death group and the survival group exhibited significant differences in CRP, HGB, and INR levels at specific monitoring time points. The proportion of CMV detection in blood was significantly higher in the death group compared to the surviving group. Elevated CRP level was identified as a prognostic risk factor. Conclusions: Despite the presence of false positives, mNGS still presents a potential advantage in predicting pulmonary infection pathogens following liver transplantation. Furthermore, the levels of CRP and CMV carrier status within four weeks post-surgery exhibit significant associations with patient survival and prognosis.

Large-scale analysis of CDH1 mutations defines a distinctive molecular subset with treatment implications in gastric cancer.

Although histological and molecular classifications have been extensively studied for gastric cancer (GC), targeted therapies for GC remain limited. CDH1 mutations (MT) are characteristic of genomically stable GC and are associated with poor prognosis, but lack effective or targeted therapies. Here, we showed the overall mutation frequency of CDH1 was 9.7% (155 of 1596). CDH1-MT GC showed significantly lower rates of PD-L1 positivity (CPS score ≥1) than CDH1-wildtype (WT) GC (56.7% vs. 73.3%, p < 0.05). Compared to CDH1-WT GC, mutations of ARID1A, WRN, POT1, CDK12, and FANCC were significantly higher, while TP53 and APC were significantly lower in CDH1-MT GC (p < 0.05); The rates of KRAS and HER2 amplifications were significantly lower, while CRKL and IGF1R amplifications were significantly higher in CDH1-MT GC, compared to CDH1-WT GC (p < 0.05). Frequently altered genes in CDH1-MT GC were especially enriched in DNA damage repair and cell cycle checkpoint pathways. Inhibition of E-cadherin sensitized GC cell lines to PARP and Wee1 inhibitors by disrupting DNA damage repair pathway and cell cycle checkpoint. This is the largest study to investigate the distinct genomic landscape of CDH1-MT GC. Our data indicated GC patients with CDH1 mutations could potentially benefit from agents targeting PARP and Wee1.

Exploring Predictive and Prognostic Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved patient outcomes, their effectiveness is mostly limited to tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI-H/dMMR) or an increased tumor mutational burden, which comprise 10% of cases. Advancing personalized medicine in CRC hinges on identifying predictive biomarkers to guide treatment decisions. This comprehensive review examines established tissue markers such as KRAS and HER2, highlighting their roles in resistance to anti-EGFR agents and discussing advances in targeted therapies for these markers. Additionally, this review summarizes encouraging data on promising therapeutic targets and highlights the clinical utility of liquid biopsies. By synthesizing current evidence and identifying knowledge gaps, this review provides clinicians and researchers with a contemporary understanding of the biomarker landscape in CRC. Finally, the review examines future directions and challenges in translating promising biomarkers into clinical practice, with the goal of enhancing personalized medicine approaches for colorectal cancer patients.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization as neoadjuvant therapy pre-liver transplantation for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to assess the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) as neoadjuvant therapy before liver transplantation (LT) for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to analyze the prognostic factors. AIM: To determine whether DEB-TACE before LT is superior to LT for advanced-stage HCC. METHODS: A total of 99 individuals diagnosed with advanced HCC were studied retrospectively. The participants were categorized into the following two groups based on whether they had received DEB-TACE before LT: DEB-TACE group (n = 45) and control group (n = 54). The participants were further divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of segmental portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). The DEB-TACE group consisted of two subgroups: Group A (n = 31) without PVTT and group B (n = 14) with PVTT. The control group also had two subgroups: Group C (n = 37) without PVTT and group D (n = 17) with PVTT. Data on patient demographics, disease characteristics, therapy response, and adverse events (AEs) were collected. The overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to determine the parameters that were independently related to OS and RFS. RESULTS: The DEB-TACE group exhibited an overall response rate of 86.6%. Following therapy, there was a significant decrease in the median alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level (275.1 ng/mL vs 41.7 ng/mL, P < 0.001). The main AE was post-embolization syndrome. The 2-year rates of RFS and OS were significantly higher in the DEB-TACE group than in the control group (68.9% vs 38.9%, P = 0.003; 86.7% vs 63.0%, P = 0.008). Within the subgroups, group A had higher 2-year rates of RFS and OS compared to group C (71.0% vs 45.9%, P = 0.038; 83.8% vs 62.2%, P = 0.047). The 2-year RFS rate of group B was markedly superior to that of group D (64.3% vs 23.5%, P = 0.002). Results from multivariate analyses showed that pre-LT DEB-TACE [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44-5.14, P = 0.04], overall target tumor diameter ≤ 7 cm (HR = 1.98, 95%CI: 1.05-3.75, P = 0.035), and AFP level ≤ 400 ng/mL (HR = 2.34; 95%CI: 1.30-4.19, P = 0.009) were significant risk factors for RFS. Additionally, pre-LT DEB-TACE (HR = 3.15, 95%CI: 1.43-6.96, P = 0.004) was identified as a significant risk factor for OS. CONCLUSION: DEB-TACE is a safe and efficient therapy for advanced-stage HCC and also enhances patient survival after LT.

Conversion of monocropping to intercropping promotes rhizosphere microbiome functionality and soil nitrogen cycling.

Intercropping can increase soil nutrient availability and provide greater crop yields for intensive agroecosystems. Despite its multiple benefits, how intercropping influences rhizosphere microbiome assemblages, functionality, and complex soil nitrogen cycling is not fully understood. Here, a three-year field experiment was carried out on different cropping system with five fertilization treatments at the main soybean production regions. We found that soybean yields in intercropped systems were on average 17 % greater than in monocropping system, regardless of fertilization treatments. We also found that intercropping systems significant increased network modularity (by 46 %) and functional diversity (by 11 %) than monocropping systems. Metagenomics analyses further indicated intercropping promotes microbiome functional adaptation, particularly enriching core functions related to nitrogen metabolism. Cropping patterns had a stronger influence on the functional genes associated with soil nitrogen cycling (R2 = 0.499). Monocropping systems increased the abundance of functional genes related to organic nitrogen ammonification, nitrogen fixation, and denitrification, while functional guilds of nitrate assimilation (by 28 %), nitrification (by 31 %), and dissimilatory nitrate reduction (by 10.1 %) genes were enriched in intercropping systems. Furthermore, we found that abiotic factors (i.e. AP, pH, and Moisture) are important drivers in shaping soil microbial community assemblage and nitrogen cycling. The functional genes include hzsB, and nrfA, and nxrA that affected by these biotic and abiotic variables were strongly related to crop yield (R2 = 0.076 ~ R2 = 0.249), suggesting a key role for maintaining crop production. We demonstrated that land use conversion from maize monocropping to maize-soybean intercropping diversify rhizosphere microbiome and functionality signatures, and intercropping increased key gene abundance related to soil nitrogen cycling to maintain the advantage of crop yield. The results of this study significantly facilitate our understanding of the complex soil nitrogen cycling processes and lay the foundation for manipulating desired specific functional taxa for improved crop productivity under sustainable intensification.

Preparation and antifungal activity evaluation of hinokitiol emulsifiable concentrate against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Hinokitiol is a natural broad-spectrum antimicrobial monoterpenoid, which is widely used as an antiseptic in food, cosmetics and other products. In the present study, the toxic actions of hinokitiol to the plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were investigated. The EC50 value for mycelial growth inhibition was 2.63 µg/mL, and there was no positive or negative cross-resistance between hinokitiol and carbendazim. The emulsifiable concentrate of 30% hinokitiol was prepared, which has excellent application prospect in the prevention of sclerotinia and gray mould. Hinokitiol is a promising spray fungicide for stems and leaves rather than seeds and roots.

Broadband Negative Photoconductive Response in Carbon Nanodots.

Due to the broadband response and low selectivity of external light, negative photoconductivity (NPC) effect holds great potential applications in photoelectric devices. Herein, different photoresponsive carbon nanodots (CDs) are prepared from diverse precursors and the broadband response from the NPC CDs are utilized to achieve the optoelectronic logic gates and optical imaging for the first time. In detail, the mcu-CDs which are prepared by the microwave-assisted polymerization of citric acid and urea possess the large specific surface area and abundant hydrophilic groups as sites for the adsorption of H2O molecules and thereby present a high conductivity in dark. Meanwhile, the low affinity of mcu-CDs to H2O molecules permits the light-induced desorption of H2O molecules by heat effect and thus endow the mcu-CDs with a low conductivity under illumination. The easy absorption and desorption of H2O molecules contribute to the extraordinary NPC of mcu-CDs. With the broadband NPC response in CDs, the optoelectronic logic gates and flexible optical imaging system are established, achieving the applications of "NOR" or "NAND" logic operations and high-quality optical images. These findings unveil the unique optoelectronic properties of CDs, and have the potential to advance the applications of CDs in optoelectronic devices.

From Perspective of Hippocampal Plasticity: Function of Antidepressant Chinese Medicine Xiaoyaosan.

The hippocampus is one of the most commonly studied brain regions in the context of depression. The volume of the hippocampus is significantly reduced in patients with depression, which severely disrupts hippocampal neuroplasticity. However, antidepressant therapies that target hippocampal neuroplasticity have not been identified as yet. Chinese medicine (CM) can slow the progression of depression, potentially by modulating hippocampal neuroplasticity. Xiaoyaosan (XYS) is a CM formula that has been clinically used for the treatment of depression. It is known to protect Gan (Liver) and Pi (Spleen) function, and may exert its antidepressant effects by regulating hippocampal neuroplasticity. In this review, we have summarized the association between depression and aberrant hippocampal neuroplasticity. Furthermore, we have discussed the researches published in the last 30 years on the effects of XYS on hippocampal neuroplasticity in order to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying its therapeutic action against depression. The results of this review can aid future research on XYS for the treatment of depression.

External Validation of the International IgA Nephropathy Prediction Tool in Older Adult Patients.

Purpose: The International IgA Nephropathy Prediction Tool (IIgAN-PT) can predict the risk of End-stage renal disease (ESRD) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline ≥ 50% for adult IgAN patients. Considering the differential progression between older adult and adult patients, this study aims to externally validate its performance in the older adult cohort. Patients and Methods: We analyzed 165 IgAN patients aged 60 and above from six medical centers, categorizing them by their predicted risk. The primary outcome was a ≥50% reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or kidney failure. Evaluation of both models involved concordance statistics (C-statistics), time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and calibration plots. Comparative reclassification was conducted using net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Results: The study included 165 Chinese patients (median age 64, 60% male), with a median follow-up of 5.1 years. Of these, 21% reached the primary outcome. Both models with or without race demonstrated good discrimination (C-statistics 0.788 and 0.790, respectively). Survival curves for risk groups were well-separated. The full model without race more accurately predicted 5-year risks, whereas the full model with race tended to overestimate risks after 3 years. No significant reclassification improvement was noted in the full model without race (NRI 0.09, 95% CI: -0.27 to 0.34; IDI 0.003, 95% CI: -0.009 to 0.019). Conclusion: : Both models exhibited excellent discrimination among older adult IgAN patients. The full model without race demonstrated superior calibration in predicting the 5-year risk.

Toripalimab Plus Bevacizumab as First-line Treatment for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective, Multicenter, Single-Arm, Phase II Trial.

PURPOSE: This phase II, multicenter, prospective, single-arm study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of toripalimab plus bevacizumab for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Treatment-naïve patients with advanced HCC received toripalimab 240 mg plus bevacizumab 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks. The primary endpoints included safety and tolerability and objective response rate (ORR) assessed by the investigator per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were enrolled between April 17, 2020, and December 11, 2020. As assessed by the investigator according to RECIST v1.1, the ORR was 31.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 19.5-45.6] and the lower bound of the 95% CI was above the prespecified boundary of 10%. The independent review committee (IRC) assessed ORR according to the modified RECIST (mRECIST), which was 46.3% (95% CI, 32.6-60.4). The median progression-free survival was 8.5 (95% CI, 5.5-11.0) and 9.8 months (95% CI, 5.6 to not evaluable) as assessed by the investigator according to RECIST v1.1 and IRC according to mRECIST criteria, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was not reached, and the 12- and 24-month OS rates were 77.3% and 63.5%, respectively. Grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 27 patients (50.0%). The most common TEAEs were proteinuria (59.3%), hypertension (38.9%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (33.3%), increased amylase (29.6%), decreased platelet count (27.8%), and increased bilirubin levels (27.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Toripalimab plus bevacizumab showed a favorable efficacy and safety profile, supporting further studies on this combination regimen as a first-line treatment for advanced HCC.

A prospective and consecutive study assessing short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of Chinese domestically manufactured 3D printing trabecular titanium acetabular cup for primary total hip arthroplasty: evaluation of 236 cases.

Purpose: We prospectively evaluate the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of the only Chinese domestically produced trabecular titanium acetabular cup(3D ACT™ cup) in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), aiming to provide evidence-based support for its clinical application. Methods: A total of 236 patients, who underwent primary THA using 3D ACT™ cup in the Department of Joint Surgery at our hospital between January 2017 and June 2019, were included in this study. General patient data, imaging information, functional scores, and complications were collected to evaluate the early clinical efficacy. Results: All patients were followed up for 33-52 months, with an average of (42.2 ± 9.2) months. At the last follow-up, the preoperative HHS score increased significantly from 43.7 ± 6.8 to 85.6 ± 9.3 points (P < 0.01). Similarly, the preoperative WOMAC scores showed significant improvement from 59.2 ± 5.8 to 13.1 ± 3.5 points (P < 0.01). 92.3% of the patients expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with the clinical outcome. Furthermore, 87.7% of the acetabular cups were positioned within the Lewinnek safe zone, achieving successful reconstruction of the acetabular rotation center. The cup survival rate at the last follow-up was 100%. Conclusions: The utilization of the only Chinese domestically manufactured 3D printing trabecular titanium acetabular cup in primary THA demonstrated favorable short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. The acetabular cup exhibits excellent initial stability, high survival rate, and favorable osseointegration, leading to a significant enhancement in pain relief and functional improvement. In the future, larger sample sizes and multicenter prospective randomized controlled trials will be required to validate the long-term safety and effectiveness of this 3D ACT™ cup.

Overexpression of cry1c* Enhances Resistance against to Soybean Pod Borer (Leguminivora glycinivorella) in Soybean.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], an essential staple food and oil crop worldwide, boasts abundant vegetable proteins and fats beneficial for both human and animal consumption. However, the soybean pod borer (Leguminivora glycinivorella) (SPB) stands as the most destructive soybean insect pest in northeast China and other northeastern Asian regions, leading to significant annual losses in soybean yield and economic burden. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the introduction of a previously tested codon-optimized cry1c gene, cry1c*, into the soybean genome and assess its effect on the SPB infestation by generating and characterizing stable transgenic soybeans overexpressing cry1c*. The transgenic soybean lines that constitutively overexpressed cry1c* exhibited a significant reduction in the percentage of damaged seeds, reaching as low as 5% in plants under field conditions. Additionally, feeding transgenic leaves to the larvae of S. exigua, S. litura, and M. separta resulted in inhibited larval growth, decreased larval body weight, and lower survival rates compared to larvae fed on wild-type leaves. These findings showed that the transgenic lines maintained their resistance to SPB and other lepidopteran pests, especially the transgenic line KC1. Southern blotting and genome-wide resequencing analysis revealed that T-DNA integration occurred as a single copy between loci 50,868,122 and 50,868,123 of chromosome 10 in the transgenic line KC1. Therefore, the transgenic line KC1, overexpressing high levels of cry1c* in leaves and seeds, holds strong potential for commercial use in the integrated management of SPB and other lepidopteran pests.

[Diffuse Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma in the Peritoneal Cavity:Report of One Case].

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma is a rare and unique type of adenocarcinoma,resembling hepatocellular carcinoma in histopathology.Most cases occur in the stomach,lacking specific clinical and imaging manifestations,which leads to high rates of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.Hepatoid adenocarcinoma in the peritoneal cavity is even rarer.This article reports a case of hepatoid adenocarcinoma with the manifestation of diffuse peritoneal thickening,aiming to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Osiris17 is essential for stable integrin localization and function during insect wing epithelia remodeling.

The dynamic adhesion between cells and their extracellular matrix is essential for the development and function of organs. During insect wing development, two epithelial sheets contact each other at their basal sites through the interaction of ßPS integrins with the extracellular matrix. We report that Osiris17 contributes to the maintenance of ßPS integrins localization and function in developing wing of Drosophila and locust. In flies with reduced Osiris17 expression the epithelia sheets fail to maintain the integrity of basal cytoplasmic junctional bridges and basal adhesion. In contrast to the continuous basal integrin localization in control wings, this localization is disrupted during late stages of wing development in Osiris17 depleted flies. In addition, the subcellular localization revealed that Osiris17 co-localizes with the endosomal markers Rab5 and Rab11. This observation suggests an involvement of Osiris17 in endosomal recycling of integrins. Indeed, Osiris17 depletion reduced the numbers of Rab5 and Rab11 positive endosomes. Moreover, overexpression of Osiris17 increased co-localization of Rab5 and ßPS integrins and partially rescued the detachment phenotype in flies with reduced ßPS integrins. Taken together, our data suggest that Osiris17 is an endosome related protein that contributes to epithelial remodeling and morphogenesis by assisting basal integrins localization in insects.

Predictive value of CDC37 gene expression for targeted therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: CDC37 is a key determinant of client kinase recruitment to the HSP90 chaperoning system. We hypothesized that kinase-specific dependency on CDC37 alters the efficacy of targeted therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two independent mCRC cohorts were analyzed to compare the survival outcomes between CDC37-high and CDC37-low patients (stratified by the median cutoff values): the CALGB/SWOG 80405 trial (226 and 207 patients receiving first-line bevacizumab- and cetuximab-containing chemotherapies, respectively) and Japanese retrospective (50 refractory patients receiving regorafenib) cohorts. A dataset of specimens submitted to a commercial CLIA-certified laboratory was utilized to characterize molecular profiles of CDC37-high (top quartile, N = 5055) and CDC37-low (bottom quartile, N = 5055) CRCs. RESULTS: In the bevacizumab-treated group, CDC37-high patients showed significantly better progression-free survival (PFS) (median 13.3 vs 9.6 months, hazard ratio [HR] 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.79, p < 0.01) than CDC37-low patients. In the cetuximab-treated group, CDC37-high and CDC37-low patients had similar outcomes. In the regorafenib-treated group, CDC37-high patients showed significantly better overall survival (median 11.3 vs 6.0 months, HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11-0.54, p < 0.01) and PFS (median 3.5 vs 1.9 months, HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28-0.94, p = 0.03). Comprehensive molecular profiling revealed that CDC37-high CRCs were associated with higher VEGFA, FLT1, and KDR expressions and activated hypoxia signature. CONCLUSIONS: CDC37-high mCRC patients derived more benefit from anti-VEGF therapies, including bevacizumab and regorafenib, but not from cetuximab. Molecular profiles suggested that such tumors were dependent on angiogenesis-relating pathways.

Biomechanical Research of Three Parallel Cannulated Compression Screws in Oblique Triangle Configuration for Fixation of Femoral Neck Unstable Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical treatment with internal fixation, specifically percutaneous fixation with three cannulated compression screws (CCSs), is the preferred choice for young and middle-aged patients. The mechanical advantage of the optimal spatial configuration with three screws provides maximum dispersion and cortical support. We suspect that the spatial proportion of the oblique triangle configuration (OTC) in the cross-section of the femoral neck isthmus (FNI) may significantly improve shear and fatigue resistance of the fixed structure, thereby stabilizing the internal fixation system in femoral neck fracture (FNF). This study aims to explore the mechanical features of OTC and provide a mechanical basis for its clinical application. METHODS: Twenty Sawbone femurs were prepared as Pauwels type III FNF models and divided equally into two fixation groups: OTC and inverted equilateral triangle configuration (IETC). Three 7.3 mm diameter cannulated compression screws (CCSs) were used for fixation. The specimens of FNF after screw internal fixation were subjected to static loading and cyclic loading tests, respectively, with five specimens for each test. Axial stiffness, 5 mm failure load, ultimate load, shear displacement, and frontal rotational angle of two fragments were evaluated. In the cyclic loading test, the load sizes were 700 N, 1400 N, and 2100 N, respectively, and the fracture end displacement was recorded. Results were presented as means ± SD. Data with normal distributions were compared by the Student's t test. RESULTS: In the static loading test, the axial stiffness, ultimate load, shear displacement, and frontal rotational angle of two fragments were (738.64 vs. 620.74) N/mm, (2957.61 vs. 2643.06) N, (4.67 vs. 5.39) mm, and (4.01 vs. 5.52)° (p < 0.05), respectively. Comparison between the femoral head displacement after 10,000 cycles of 700N cyclic loading and total displacement after 20,000 cycles of 700-1400N cyclic loading showed the OTC group was less than the IETC group (p < 0.05). A comparison of femoral head displacement after 10,000 cycles of 1400N and 2100N cycles and total displacement after 30,000 cycles of 700-2100N cycles showed the OTC group was less than another group, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: When three CCSs are inserted in parallel to fix FNF, the OTC of three screws has obvious biomechanical advantages, especially in shear resistance and early postoperative weight-bearing, which provides a mechanical basis for clinical selection of ideal spatial configuration for unstable FNF.

[Analysis on Driving Factors, Reduction Potential, and Environmental Effect of Inorganic Fertilizer Input in Chongqing].

In this study, we sought to quantify the effect of planting structure change on fertilizer input and environmental cost in Chongqing and develop scientific and rational strategies for chemical fertilizer reduction. Based on the crop fertilizer quota standard and large sample farmer survey data under the medium productivity level in Chongqing, we evaluated and analyzed the application reduction potential and environmental benefits of fertilizer with the difference method and life cycle assessment. The results showed that:① since Chongqing became a municipality directly under the central government (1997), Chongqing crop planting structure had greatly changed, and the proportion of food crop (rice, corn, wheat, bean, and potato) decreased by 21%. The area of fruits and vegetables increased from 3.36×105 hm2 to 1.05×106 hm2, and their proportion increased by 20%. ② Nearly 55% of fertilizers had been consumed by vegetable (37%) and citrus production systems, and 11%, 12%, and 12% of fertilizers were consumed by rice, corn, and potato, respectively. ③ The total fertilizer reduction of the Chongqing planting industry could reach up to 1.69×105 tons during the period of "the 14th Five-Year Plan," with a fertilizer reduction potential of 18.6%. The fertilizer reduction potential (reduction amount) of rice, corn, citrus, and vegetables would reach 0.3% (2.9×102 tons), 12% (1.45×104 tons), 21% (3.65×104 tons), and 30% (1.18×105 tons), respectively. On the other hand, the rape system was insufficient in phosphorus potassium fertilizers, and the corn tended to be insufficient in potash fertilizer. ④ The current production level was low, and the nitrogen loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and eutrophication potential in the planting industry of Chongqing reached 1.81×105 tons (N), 1.43×107 tons (CO2-eq), and 1.74×105 tons (PO4-eq). With the increase in the realization degree of the crop quota standard (60%-100%), the reactive nitrogen loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and eutrophication potential decreased by 14.9%-24.9%, 10.1%-16.7%, and 13.8%-23%, respectively. The structure of the planting industry in Chongqing significantly changed, the total fertilizer consumption in Chongqing tended to decline gradually, and the fertilization intensity of commercial crops stayed at a high level. The agricultural fertilizer reduction potential and the reactive nitrogen and greenhouse gas emission reduction potential were large, especially for citrus and vegetable production systems. However, it is also necessary to pay attention to insufficient corn potash fertilizer and rape phosphorus potassium fertilizer investment and carry out collaborative promotion of fertilizer reduction.