MicroRNA-200 as potential diagnostic markers for colorectal cancer: meta-analysis and experimental validation.

Members of microRNA(miR)-200 family is proposed as promising biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, their expression in CRC patients, and whether them could identify as new biomarkers of cancers are inconsistent and controversy. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic value of miR-200 family members in CRC patients. This meta-analysis screened 6 studies, including 191 patients with colorectal cancer at stage IV, 446 patients with colorectal cancer at stage I~III and 98 normal controls, and performed using bivariate and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) models. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed according to Quality Assessment of Diagnosis Accuracy Studies-2. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of miR­141 alone for CRC diagnosis were 82% and 75%, respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) value was 13.21 [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.00­24.95], and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.82­0.88). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of total miR-200 family members were 79% and 71%, respectively. In the HSROC model, the estimate for the "Lambda" was 2.48 (95% CI,1.50-3.46). Finally, we detected the miR-141 in 20 CRC patients and 20 healthy. Results showed that serum miR-141 was overexpressed in CRC patients. Overall, miR-141 in miR-200 family has a good sensitivity and moderate specificity for CRC diagnosis.

Stereotactic ablative brachytherapy with or without assistance of 3D-printing templates for inoperable locally recurrent or oligometastatic soft-tissue sarcoma: a multicenter real-world study.

The management of inoperable locally recurrent or oligometastatic soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) remains a clinical challenge. This study aimed to explore the long-term outcomes of stereotactic ablative brachytherapy (SABT) for these patients. Patients diagnosed with inoperable locally recurrent or oligometastatic STS from eight hospitals between 2006 and 2021 underwent iodine-125 (I-125) seed SABT, either with or without the assistance of three-dimensional (3D)-printing templates. The analysis concentrated on several key parameters, including objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), local control time (LCT), overall survival (OS), adverse events (AEs), pain relief rate, and performance improvement rate. The ORR and DCR reached 78.3% and 95.0%, respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that a smaller tumor volume and a higher treatment dose were significantly associated with complete response (P < 0.001; P=0.036). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year LCT rates were 73.2%, 40.6%, and 37.9%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates reached 83.1%, 50.5%, and 36.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that a higher dose, a smaller tumor volume, and utilization of 3D-printing templates were significantly positive prognostic factors of LCT (P=0.006; P=0.007; P=0.034). Moreover, the tumor locations of trunk wall and extremities and lower tumor grade (G1/2) were significantly positive prognostic factors of survival (P=0.008; P=0.002). Pain relief rate was 88.0%, and the performance improvement rate was 46.7%. The AEs were predominantly of grade ≤ 2 and were well-tolerated. SABT seems to be an efficacious and safe alternative therapy for inoperable locally recurrent or oligometastatic STS.

Long-Term Outcomes of Personalized Stereotactic Ablative Brachytherapy for Recurrent Head and Neck Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma after Surgery or External Beam Radiotherapy: A 9-Year Study.

The management of recurrent head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma (HNACC) remains a problematic challenge. This study aims to evaluate the long-term outcomes of personalized stereotactic ablative brachytherapy (SABT) as a salvage treatment for recurrent HNACC after surgery or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). 21 patients with recurrent HNACC after surgery or EBRT successfully underwent iodine-125 (I-125) seed SABT from May 2011 to November 2019. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), local control time (LCT), overall survival (OS), symptomatic relief and adverse events (AEs) were analyzed. Following SABT, the ORR and DCR were 85.7% and 100%, respectively. The 3-, and 5-year LCT rates were 68.8% and 55.1%, respectively, and the 3- and 5-year OS rates were 85.9% and 66.2%, respectively. Furthermore, univariate analyses showed that higher D90 (>137.1 Gy) was a strong positive prognostic factor of LCT (p < 0.05). The pain disappeared in one patient 3 months after SABT and partial pain improvement was observed in nine patients 1 to 6 months after SABT. Additionally, dyspnea was relieved in one patient with the tumor involving the trachea. The major AEs were mild intraoperative hemorrhage and skin/mucosal toxicities which were generally graded ≤2 and well-tolerated. Personalized SABT was an effective and safe alternative option for recurrent HNACC after the previous failure of surgery or EBRT. The parameter of D90 may influence the local control.

Mesoscopic Dynamical Model of Ice Crystal Nucleation Leading to Droplet Freezing.

We present a numerical model to study the dynamic behaviors and heat conduction of freezing liquid droplets based on the MDPDE method (many-body dissipative particle dynamics with energy conservation configurations). In this model, the freezing processes involved in cooling, recalescence, and nucleation are considered. A new scaling method was developed to connect the mesoscopic MDPDE coefficients and macrothermal conductivity. The freezing of water droplets on cold surfaces with different wettabilities was simulated. Both the evolution of temperature and ice-liquid interface movement showed close agreement with the experimental data. We discuss the formation of a pointy tip on the top of an ice-drop and nucleation and growth during the recalescence stage. The rapid expansion of the recalescence region and the growth of the solid-phase region were calculated numerically, and this showed that the nuclei distribution of the two processes were completely different. The MDPDE model can not only predict the freezing time and shape deformation of ice-drops but also the nuclei formation and crystal growth during solidification. This study provides a useful tool for deicing material design.