Clinical practice of the transrectal shear-wave elastography in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the practical value of the transrectal two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (SWE) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: Consecutive male participants with and without BPH constituted the BPH and control group respectively were enrolled prospectively between March and December 2022. Transrectal conventional ultrasound and SWE examinations for the prostate were performed on these participants. Data of quantitative stiffness of the transitional zone (TZ) and peripheral zone (PZ) of prostate, volume of prostate (VP) and volume of TZ (VTZ) and prostate specific androgen (PSA), etc., were collected. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between quantitative stiffness data and other clinical parameters. RESULTS: There were 200 participants evaluated, including 100 healthy participants and 100 BPH patients. For every one-year increment in age, it was correlated with 0.50 kPa increasement of TZ stiffness. VP and VTZ were correlated with TZ stiffness. Higher TZ stiffness was associated with higher free prostate specific antigen (PSA) and total PSA. CONCLUSIONS: The prostate is stiffer and larger in BPH group compared to control group. Quantitative stiffness of the TZ was related with age, VP, VTZ and PSA.

Voice Changes of Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Eleven Years After Radiotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess voice changes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using subjective and objective assessment tools and to make inferences regarding the underlying pathological causes for different phases of radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: A total of 187 (123 males and 64 females) patients with post-RT NPC with no recurrence of malignancy or other voice diseases and 17 (11 males and 6 females) healthy individuals were included in this study. The patients were equally divided into 11 groups according to the number of years after RT. The acoustic analyses, GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain) scales, and Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10 scores were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The fundamental frequency (F0) parameters in years 1 and 2 and year 11 were significantly lower in patients with NPC than in healthy individuals. The maximum phonation times in years 1 and 11 were significantly shorter than those in healthy individuals. The jitter parameters were significantly different between year 1 and from years 8 to 11 and the healthy individuals. The shimmer parameters were significantly different between years 1, from years 9 to 11, and healthy individuals. Hoarseness was the most prominent problem compared to other items of the GRBAS. The VHI-10 scores were significantly different between years 1 and 2 and year 11 after RT in patients with NPC. CONCLUSIONS: Voice quality was worse in the first 2 years and from years 8 to 11 but remained relatively normal from years 3 to 7 after RT. Patient-reported voice handicaps began during year 3 after RT. The most prominent problem was perceived hoarseness, which was evident in the first 2 years and from years 9 to 11 after RT. The radiation-induced mucous edema, laryngeal intrinsic muscle fibrosis, nerve injuries, upper respiratory tract changes, and decreased lung capacity might be the pathological reasons for voice changes in post-RT patients with NPC.

Developing Plant Exosomes as an Advanced Delivery System for Cosmetic Peptide.

Peptides are a promising skincare ingredient, but due to their inherent instability and the barrier function of the skin's surface, they often have limited skin absorption and penetration, which can significantly hinder their skincare benefits. To address this, a novel technique called NanoGlow has been introduced for encapsulating peptide-based cosmetic raw materials into engineered nanosized plant-derived exosomes (pExo) to achieve the goal of a healthier and more radiant skin state. In this approach, pExo served as carriers for cosmetic peptides across the intact skin barrier, enhancing their biological effectiveness in skin beauty. The NanoGlow strategy combines chemical activation and physical proencapsulation, boasting a high success rate and straightforward and stable operation, making it suitable for large-scale production. Comprehensive analysis using in vitro cellular absorption and skin penetration models has demonstrated that the nanosized pExo carriers significantly improve peptide penetration into the skin compared to free peptides. Furthermore, in vivo tissue slice studies have shown that pExo carriers efficiently deliver acetyl hexapeptide-8 to the skin's dermis, surpassing the performance of free peptides. Cosmetic skincare effect analysis has also indicated that pExo-loaded cosmetic peptides deliver superior results. Therefore, the NanoGlow technique harnesses the natural size and properties of pExo to maximize the bioavailability of cosmetic peptides, holding great promise for developing advanced peptide delivery systems in both the cosmetic and medical drug industries.

Electrophysiological Changes on Laryngeal Motor Neuropathways Cause Voice Disorders for Postradiotherapy Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored electrophysiological changes in the laryngeal motor neuropathway and determined whether lesions in the laryngeal motor cortex (LMC) and its descending tract contribute to voice deterioration and peripheral nerve palsy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) postradiotherapy (RT). STUDY DESIGNS: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with NPC at 2 to 4years post-RT (8 female and 14 male), 22 patients with NPC at 8 to 10years post-RT (8 female and 14 male), and 22 healthy individuals (9 female and 13 male) were selected to test their magnetic evoked potentials (MEP), motor nerve conduction, and voice quality using transcranial magnetic stimulation, laryngeal electromyography, and the XION DiVAS acoustic analysis software. Three groups were matched according to approximate age. Multiple comparisons were performed among the three groups. RESULTS: The voice quality of post-RT patients with NPC deteriorated compared to that of healthy individuals. Bilateral LMC and their corticonuclear tracts to the bilateral ambiguous nuclei of post-RT patients with NPC were impaired according to multigroup comparisons of MEP amplitudes, latencies, and resting motor thresholds. The vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN) of post-RT patients with NPC were impaired according to multigroup comparisons of the amplitude and latencies of the compound muscle action potential and latencies of f-waves. CONCLUSIONS: The voice quality of patients with NPC deteriorated after RT. The pathogenesis of post-RT voice deterioration may involve radiation-induced injuries to the vagus, RLN, and bilateral LMC. Furthermore, radiation-induced injuries to the bilateral LMC may contribute to vagus and RLN palsies. These findings support the use of transcranial approaches to treating voice disorders and peripheral nerve palsies in post-RT patients with NPC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2100054425; Electrophysiological Study of Vocal-Fold Mobility Disorders After Radiotherapy for NPC Patients via Magnetic Evoked Potential and Their Correlation with Voice Quality Assessment; https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=144429.

Case report: Prostatic malakoplakia: a rare disease that has a profile mimicking prostate cancer.

Prostatic malakoplakia (PMP) is a rare inflammatory disease, and misdiagnosis on imaging is a major reason for unnecessary punctures; however, information on imaging is even rarer. Five patients with PMP between May 2022 and February 2023 were enrolled in this study to summarize the imaging manifestations. All patients underwent ultrasound (US)-guided prostate biopsy and were confirmed by pathology, and the presence of prostate cancer was also excluded by pathology. The five patients, with a median age of 71 years (range = 58-74 years), had a median total prostate-specific antigen (T-PSA) of 10.40 ng/mL (range = 1.74-63.42 ng/mL). In two patients, chest computed tomography showed pulmonary infections. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of these patients, four had a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) score of 5, while one had a score of 4. The lesions were mostly distributed in the peripheral zone of the prostate and appeared as a high signal on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and a low signal on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). In the US examination, four patients had abnormal prostate morphology, with an unsmooth envelope and non-uniform parenchymal echogenicity. Four patients had increased prostate volume. US showed a hypoechoic nodule with non-uniform internal echogenicity, and an abundant internal blood flow signal was detected by color Doppler US. PSA, MRI, and US were not specific for PMP in our study, but we found that a history of co-infection may be helpful in an accurate diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary biopsy.

A non-invasive 25-Gene PLNM-Score urine test for detection of prostate cancer pelvic lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer patients with pelvic lymph node metastasis (PLNM) have poor prognosis. Based on EAU guidelines, patients with >5% risk of PLNM by nomograms often receive pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) during prostatectomy. However, nomograms have limited accuracy, so large numbers of false positive patients receive unnecessary surgery with potentially serious side effects. It is important to accurately identify PLNM, yet current tests, including imaging tools are inaccurate. Therefore, we intended to develop a gene expression-based algorithm for detecting PLNM. METHODS: An advanced random forest machine learning algorithm screening was conducted to develop a classifier for identifying PLNM using urine samples collected from a multi-center retrospective cohort (n = 413) as training set and validated in an independent multi-center prospective cohort (n = 243). Univariate and multivariate discriminant analyses were performed to measure the ability of the algorithm classifier to detect PLNM and compare it with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram score. RESULTS: An algorithm named 25 G PLNM-Score was developed and found to accurately distinguish PLNM and non-PLNM with AUC of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.85-1.01) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.87-0.99) in the retrospective and prospective urine cohorts respectively. Kaplan-Meier plots showed large and significant difference in biochemical recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival in the patients stratified by the 25 G PLNM-Score (log rank P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). It spared 96% and 80% of unnecessary PLND with only 0.51% and 1% of PLNM missing in the retrospective and prospective cohorts respectively. In contrast, the MSKCC score only spared 15% of PLND with 0% of PLNM missing. CONCLUSIONS: The novel 25 G PLNM-Score is the first highly accurate and non-invasive machine learning algorithm-based urine test to identify PLNM before PLND, with potential clinical benefits of avoiding unnecessary PLND and improving treatment decision-making.

Healthy lifestyle decreases the risk of the first incidence of non-communicable chronic disease and its progression to multimorbidity and its mediating roles of metabolic components: a prospective cohort study in China.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the influence of healthy lifestyles on the incidence of the first NCD (FNCD), multiple chronic conditions (MCCs), and the progression from FNCD to MCCs. DESIGN: cohort study. SETTING: Zhejiang, China PARTICIPANTS: 10566 subjects (55.5 ± 13.5 years, 43.1% male) free of NCDs at baseline from the Zhejiang Metabolic Syndrome prospective cohort. MEASUREMENTS: Healthy lifestyle score (HLS) was developed by 6 common healthy lifestyle factors as smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Healthy lifestyle data and metabolic biomarkers collected via a face-to-face questionnaire-based interview, clinical health examination and routine biochemical determination. Biochemical variables were determined using biochemical auto-analyzer. Participants were stratified into four group based on the levels of HLS as ≤2, 3, 4 and ≥5. Multiple Cox proportional hazards model was applied to examine the relationship between HLS and the risk of FNCD, MCCs and the progression from FNCD to MCCs. The population-attributable fractions (PAF) were used to assess the attributable role of HLS. Mediating effect was examined by mediation package in R. RESULTS: After a median of 9.92 years of follow-up, 1572 participants (14.9%) developed FNCD, and 149 (1.4%) developed MCCs. In the fully adjusted model, the higher HLS group (≥5) was associated with lower risk of FNCD (HR = 0.68 and 95% CI: 0.56-0.82), MCCs (HR = 0.31 and 95%CI: 0.14-0.69); and the progression from FNCD to MCCs (HR = 0.39 and 95%CI: 0.18-0.85). Metabolic components (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDC-C, FPG, and UA) played the mediating roles with the proportion ranging from 5.02% to 22.2% for FNCD and 5.94% to 20.1% for MCCs. PAFs (95%CI) for poor adherence to the overall healthy lifestyle (HLS ≤ 3) were 17.5% (11.2%, 23.7%) for FNCD, 42.9% (23.4%, 61.0%) for MCCs, and 37.0% (15.5%, 56.3%) for the progression from FNCD to MCCs. CONCLUSIONS: High HLS decreases the risk of FNCD, MCCs, and the progression from FNCD to MCCs. These effects are partially mediated by metabolic components. Maintaining healthy lifestyles might reduce the disease burden of common chronic diseases.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic risk in Chinese population: evidence from a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and changes in metabolic risk in the Chinese population are limited. This study aims to examine the associations between CRF and changes in metabolic risk. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included 4,862 and 2,700 participants recruited from 28 provinces in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in the baseline (Wave 1) and follow-up (Wave 4) analyses, respectively. CRF was calculated using sex-specific longitudinal non-exercise equations. Metabolic indicators included systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. The metabolic score was calculated as the number of changes in the above metabolic indicators above the 75th percentile of the distribution of changes (equal to or below the 25th percentile for HDL-C). RESULTS: In the baseline analysis, CRF was negatively associated with SBP, DBP, TG, and FPG, and positively correlated with HDL-C after adjusting for age, smoking status, and drinking status (all P < 0.0001) in both males and females. In the follow-up analysis, higher baseline CRF was significantly related to a decrease in SBP, DBP, TG, FPG, and metabolic score (all P < 0.0005), and increased HDL-C (P < 0.0001) after further adjustment for corresponding baseline metabolic indicators. The associations remained significant after stratification by sex, except for the changes in HDL-C levels in females. Furthermore, improved CRF was associated with favorable changes in DBP, TG, HDL-C, FPG, and metabolic scores in all populations and males. Significant associations between changes in CRF and DBP, TG, and FPG levels were found in females. CONCLUSION: Higher baseline CRF and improved CRF were associated with favorable changes in metabolic indicators.

Experimental Study on Secondary Anchorage Bond Performance of Residual Stress after Corrosion Fracture at Ends of Prestressed Steel Strands.

In order to explore the secondary bond anchorage performance between prestressed tendons and concrete after the fracture of steel strands in post-tensioned, prestressed concrete (PPC) beams, a total of seven post-tensioned, prestressed concrete specimens with a size of 3 × 7ϕ15.2 mm were constructed firstly, and the steel strands at the anchorage end were subjected to corrosion fracture. Then, the pull-out test of the specimens was conducted to explore the secondary anchorage bond mechanism of the residual stress of prestressed tendons experiencing local fracture. Moreover, the influences of factors such as the embedded length, release-tensioning speed, concrete strength, and stirrup configuration on anchorage bond performance were analyzed. Finally, the test results were further verified via finite element analysis. The results show that the failure of pull-out specimens under different parameters can be divided into two types: bond anchorage failure induced by the entire pull-out of steel strands and material failure triggered by the rupture of steel strands. The bond anchorage failure mechanism between steel strands and the concrete was revealed by combining the failure characteristics and pull-out load-slippage relation curves. The bond strength between prestressed steel strands and concrete can be enhanced by increasing the embedded length of steel strands, elevating the concrete strength grade, and enlarging the diameter of stirrups so that the specimens are turned from bond anchorage failure into material failure.

The role of EPAS1 polymorphisms on COPD susceptibility in southern Chinese.

Objective: COPD is the most common chronic respiratory disease with complex environmental and genetic etiologies. It was reported that EPAS1 might participate in the occurrence and development of respiratory diseases. However, the association between EPAS1 and COPD was unclear. Methods: First, a case-control study enrolling 1130 COPD patients and 1115 healthy controls in Guangzhou was conducted to clarify the association between EPAS1 polymorphisms and COPD susceptibility. Secondly, a prevalence study recruited 882 participants in Gansu to verify the effect of positive polymorphisms on lung function. Finally, the 10-year absolute risk considering environmental factors and genetic variations was calculated by the method of Gail and Bruzzi. Results: EPAS1 rs13419896 AA genotype reduced COPD risk in southern Chinese (AA vs. GG: adjusted OR = 0.689, 95% CI = 0.498-0.955; AA vs. GG/GA: adjusted OR = 0.701, 95% CI = 0.511-0.962). Further, the rs13419896 A allele was significantly associated with higher pre-FEV1/pre-FVC in both the Guangzhou and Gansu populations (P < 0.05). Smoking status, coal as fuels, education level, and rs13419896 G > A were finally retained to develop a relative risk model for males. Smoking status, biomass as fuels, and rs13419896 G > A were retained in the female model. The population-attributable risk of the male or female model was 0.457 (0.283-0.632) and 0.421 (0.227-0.616), respectively. Conclusions: This study first revealed that EPAS1 rs13419896 G > A decreased COPD susceptibility and could be a genetic marker to predict the 10-year absolute risk for COPD.

EPO rs1617640 A>C is a Protective Factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are regulated by environmental and genetic factors. In hypoxia, Erythropoietin (EPO) satisfies the body's need for oxygen by promoting the production of red blood cells. Hypoxia was proven to be a common physiological condition in COPD progression and associated with many complications. Some studies have found that EPO is involved in the development of COPD. But the mechanism has not been fully proven. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study enrolled 1095 COPD patients and 1144 healthy controls in Guangdong Province to evaluate the association between EPO polymorphisms (rs1617640 A>C, rs507392 A>G, rs564449 G>T) and COPD susceptibility. 872 participants from southern Gansu Province were recruited to verify the effect of EPO polymorphisms on lung function. RESULTS: EPO rs1617640 C allele reduced COPD susceptibility in southern Chinese significantly (AC vs. AA: adjusted Odds ratio (OR) = 0.805, 95% CI = 0.669-0.969; AC+CC vs. AA: adjusted OR = 0.822, 95% CI = 0.689-0.980). However, there was no association between rs507392 A>G and rs564449 G>T polymorphisms and COPD susceptibility (p > 0.05). We further observed that the rs1617640 C allele was associated with higher FEV1 and FVC in Guangdong and Gansu populations significantly (both p < 0.05). In brief, the level of FEV1 and FVC increased with the C allele number. We modeled the relative risk for men and women, in which the population-attributable risks chances were 0.449 (0.258-0.641) and 0.262 (0.128-0.396) respectively. In this model, smoking status, coal as fuels, education level, and rs1617640 A>C were finally retained for males, while smoking status, biomass as fuels, and1617640 A>C were retained for females. In the end, using the method developed by Gail and Bruzzi, we fitted a 10-year absolute risk model for southern Chinese with different individual relative risks, which was presented as a table. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study found that EPO rs1617640 A>C polymorphism is associated with COPD susceptibility in southern Chinese, and the C allele was associated with better lung function. In addition, it could also be considered a genetic marker associated with environmental factors to predict the absolute 10-year risk of COPD in southern Chinese.

Comprehensive analysis identifies novel targets of gemcitabine to improve chemotherapy treatment strategies for colorectal cancer.

Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) is a second-line anticancer drug of choice for some colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, and GEM inability to be commonly available in the clinic due to the lack of clarity of the exact action targets. Methods: The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of GEM treatment for 42 CRC cell lines were accessed from the Genomics of Drug sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database. High-throughput sequencing data of CRC patients were captured in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted. Pearson correlations were derived for GEM potency-related genes. Differential analysis was conducted in the TCGA cohort to obtain CRC development-related genes (CDRGs), and univariate COX model analysis was performed on CDRGs overlapping with GEM potency-related genes to obtain CDRGs affecting CRC prognosis. Hub genes affecting GEM potency were identified by Spearman correlation. Results: CALB2 and GPX3 were identified as potential targets for GEM treatment of CRC via prognostic analysis, which we also observed to be elevated with elevated clinical stage in CRC patients. The enhanced expression of CALB2 and GPX3 genes identified in the pathway analysis might inhibit the body metabolism as well as activate immune and inflammation related pathways. In addition, we found that CALB2 and GPX3 could also be considered as prognostic biomarkers in pan-cancer. Finally, we found that CALB2 and GPX3 were remarkably associated with the drug sensitivity of MG-132, Dasatinib, Shikonin, Midostaurin, MS-275, and Z-LNle-CHO, which were expected to be the drugs of choice for GEM combination. Conclusion: CALB2 and GPX3 represent prognostic biomarkers for CRC and they might be potential action targets for GEM. Our study offered innovative ideas for GEM administration strategies.

PKMYT1: A Potential Target for CCNE1 Amplificated Colorectal Tumors.

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor with higher morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether inhibition of Protein Kinase, Membrane Associated Tyrosine/Threonine 1 (PKMYT1) affects tumor cell proliferation, survival and migration in colon tumors with high Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) expression. PcDNA3.1-CCNE1 vector and si-PKMYT1 were transfected in SW480 cells by Lipofectamine 2000. Q-PCR and western blot assay were processed to detect the expression. Transwell assay and Edu assay were undertaken to verify the migration and proliferation. CCNE1 promotes the proliferation and migration of SW480. Silencing of PKMYT1 inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells. Silencing the expression of PKMYT1 under the premise of overexpression of CCNE1, the level of Cyclin Dependent Kinase 1 (CDK1)-PT14 was reduced, indicating that the cell cycle was blocked. The expression of γH2AX increased significantly, indicating that the DDR pathway of tumor cells was activated and DNA damage accumulated. The results of immunofluorescence microscopy showed significantly increased expression of DNA damage-associated marker (γH2AX: H2AX Variant Histone). In CCNE1 amplificated colorectal tumor cells, knockdown of PKMYT1 reduced cells in S phase, inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis, confirming that PKMYT1 was a potential therapeutic target for colorectal tumor. This study may verify a potential therapeutic target and provide a new idea for the treatment of colorectal cancer in the future.

Long-Term Atmosphere Surveillance (2016-2021) of PM2.5-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Health Risk Assessment in Yangtze River Delta, China.

Long-term atmospheric quality monitoring of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was performed in Wuxi from 2016 to 2021. In total, 504 atmospheric PM2.5 samples were collected, and PM2.5-bound 16 PAHs were detected. The PM2.5 and ∑PAHs level decreased annually from 2016 to 2021, from 64.3 to 34.0 µg/m3 and 5.27 to 4.22 ng/m3, respectively. The benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) levels of 42% of the monitoring days in 2017 exceeded the recommended European Union (EU) health-based standard of 1 ng/m3. Five- and six-ring PAHs were found, including benz[a]anthracene, benzo[k]fluoranthene (Bkf), BaP, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene, which were the dominant components (indicating a prominent petroleum, biomass, and coal combustion contribution) using molecular diagnostic ratios and positive matrix factorization analysis. Moreover, PM2.5 and PAHs were significantly negatively associated with local precipitation over a period of six years. Statistically significant temporal and spatial distribution differences of PM2.5, and ∑PAHs were also found. The toxicity equivalent quotient (TEQ) of total PAHs was 0.70, and the TEQ of BaP (0.178) was the highest, followed by that of Bkf (0.090), dibenz[a,h]anthracene (Dah) (0.048), and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (0.034). The medians of the incremental lifetime cancer risk for long-term exposure to PAHs were 2.74E-8, 1.98E-8, and 1.71E-7 for children, teenagers, and adults, respectively, indicating that the carcinogenic risk of PAHs pollution in air was acceptable to local residents in this area. Sensitivity analysis revealed that BaP, Bkf, and Dah significantly contributed to carcinogenic toxicity. This research provides comprehensive statistics on the local air persistent organic pollutants profile, helps to identify the principal pollution source and compounds, and contributes to the prevention of regional air pollution. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12403-023-00572-x.

Corrosion-Effected Bond Behavior between PVA-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete and Steel Rebar under Chloride Environment.

Corrosion-effected bond behavior between polyvinyl-alcohol-fiber-reinforced concrete and steel rebar under a chloride environment is the experimental subject studied in the present work. Twenty-four pull-out specimens are designed and subjected firstly to an accelerated corrosion test. The effects of polyvinyl alcohol fibers on the cracking behavior, chloride penetration of concrete members and the corrosion loss of steel rebars during the corrosion test are discussed. After this, these corroded specimens are subjected to a pull-out test. The failure mode, the bond-slip curves and the typical bond-stress values are measured during the test. The effects of polyvinyl alcohol fibers and corrosion loss on bond behavior between polyvinyl-alcohol-fiber-reinforced concrete and steel rebar are clarified. Results show that the polyvinyl-alcohol-fiber-reinforced concrete exhibits worse resistance to corrosion damage than plain concrete. The cracking width, chloride penetration depth in concrete and the corrosion loss of steel rebar are more serious for the specimens with more polyvinyl alcohol fibers. The polyvinyl alcohol fibers also negatively affect bonding in ascending branches for both the specimens, but improve the bonding in descending branches after peak stress in the case of splitting. In the present test, the bond strength of corrosive specimens is increased slightly and then decreases gradually with the deepening of corrosion loss. The failures of specimens change from pull-out to splitting-pull-out as the corrosion time exceeds 30 days. Compared with uncorroded specimens, the maximum degradation of bond strength is about 50.1% when the corrosion is increased from 0% to 15%.

Efficacy and safety of LY01005 versus goserelin implant in Chinese patients with prostate cancer: A multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase III, non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: LY01005 (Goserelin acetate sustained-release microsphere injection) is a modified gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist injected monthly. This phase III trial study aimed to evaluated the efficacy and safety of LY01005 in Chinese patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial across 49 sites in China. This study included 290 patients with prostate cancer who received either LY01005 or goserelin implants every 28 days for three injections. The primary efficacy endpoints were the percentage of patients with testosterone suppression ≤50 ng/dL at day 29 and the cumulative probability of testosterone ≤50 ng/dL from day 29 to 85. Non-inferiority was prespecified at a margin of -10%. Secondary endpoints included significant castration (≤20 ng/dL), testosterone surge within 72 h following repeated dosing, and changes in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prostate specific antigen levels. RESULTS: On day 29, in the LY01005 and goserelin implant groups, testosterone concentrations fell below medical-castration levels in 99.3% (142/143) and 100% (140/140) of patients, respectively, with a difference of -0.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.9% to 2.0%) between the two groups. The cumulative probabilities of maintaining castration from days 29 to 85 were 99.3% and 97.8%, respectively, with a between-group difference of 1.5% (95% CI, -1.3% to 4.4%). Both results met the criterion for non-inferiority. Secondary endpoints were similar between groups. Both treatments were well-tolerated. LY01005 was associated with fewer injection-site reactions than the goserelin implant (0% vs . 1.4% [2/145]). CONCLUSION: LY01005 is as effective as goserelin implants in reducing testosterone to castration levels, with a similar safety profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04563936.

Echocardiographic assessment of left cardiac structure and function in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve people living with HIV/AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to HIV-negative people. Left heart dysfunction is the most common cardiac complication in people living with HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (PLWHA), and diastolic dysfunction is an important predictor of cardiovascular events. The aims of this study were (1) to detect changes in left cardiac structure and function in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive PLWHA using echocardiography; and (2) to investigate the risk factors for the development of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in ART-naive PLWHA. METHODS: We retrospectively included 105 ART-naïve PLWHA and included 90 healthy subjects as controls to compare the differences in left heart structure and function between the two groups. Univariate and multifactorial logistic regression were employed to explore the risk factors of the development of LVDD in ART-naive PLWHA. RESULTS: The left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) were significantly greater in PLWHA than in controls (p < .05). The E/A ratio, lateral e' velocity, and mitral deceleration time were significantly lower in PLWHA than in controls (p < .05). Average E/e' ratio was significantly higher in PLWHA than in controls (p < .05). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were not significantly different between PLWHA and controls (p > .05). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that age, body mass index (BMI), and CD4+ count <200 cells/µL were independent risk factors for LVDD in ART-naive PLWHA (OR = 1.781, 1.228, 3.683, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular systolic function did not differ between PLWHA and controls, and left ventricular diastolic function was lower in PLWHA than in controls. Age, BMI, and CD4+ count were independent factors affecting LVDD in ART-naive PLWHA.

An anatomical study of the suboccipital cavernous sinus and its relationship with the myodural bridge complex.

The suboccipital cavernous sinus (SCS) and the myodural bridge complex (MDBC) are both located in the suboccipital region. The SCS is regarded as a route for venous intracranial outflow and is often encountered during surgery. The MDBC consists of the suboccipital muscles, nuchal ligament, and myodural bridge and could be a power source for cerebrospinal fluid circulation. Intracranial pressure depends on intracranial blood volume and the cerebrospinal fluid. Since the SCS and MDBC have similar anatomical locations and functions, the aim of the present study was to reveal the relationships between them and the detailed anatomical characteristics of the SCS. The study involved gross dissection, histological staining, P45 plastination, and three-dimensional visualization techniques. The SCS consists of many small venous sinuses enclosed within a thin fibrous membrane that is strengthened by a fibrous arch closing the vertebral artery groove. The venous vessels are more abundant in the lateral and medial portions of the SCS than the middle portion. The middle and medial portions of the SCS are covered by the MDBC. Type I collagen fibers arranged in parallel and originating from the MDBC terminate on the SCS either directly or indirectly via the fibrous arch. The morphological features of SCS revealed in this research could serve as an anatomical basis for upper neck surgical procedures. There are parallel arrangements of type I collagen fibers between the MDBC and the SCS. The MDBC could change the blood volume in the SCS by pulling its wall during the head movement.

Can contrast-enhanced ultrasound differentiate the type of hepatic echinococcosis: cystic echinococcosis or alveolar echinococcosis?

BACKGROUND: Hepatic echinococcosis (HE) is a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus, and Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are the most common, causing cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), respectively. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an imaging technique which has been recommended for identifying focal lesions in the liver. However, the effect of CEUS on the differentiation of hepatic echinococcosis type remains unclear. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with 46 HE lesions confirmed by histopathology in our hospital from December 2019 to May 2022 were reviewed by conventional ultrasound (US) and CEUS examinations, respectively. After US was completed, the CEUS study was performed. A bolus injection of 1.0-1.2 ml of a sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble contrast agent (SonoVue®) was administered. The images and clips of the lesions by US and CEUS were reviewed retrospectively. The lesions detected using US were evaluated including the location, size, morphology, margin, internal echogenicity and the internal Doppler signal. The lesions detected using CEUS were evaluated including the enhancement degree, enhancement pattern and enhancing boundary in different phases. The diagnoses of lesions by US or CEUS were respectively recorded. By taking the histopathology as the gold standard, the paired Chi-square test was performed with statistical software (IBM SPSS; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and the results of differentiation of HE type by US and CEUS were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 46 lesions were involved in 25 patients, including 10 males (40.0%) and 15 females (60.0%) aged 15-55 (42.9 ± 10.3) years. By histopathology, 24 lesions of nine patients were diagnosed as CE and 22 lesions of 16 patients were diagnosed as AE. Among the 46 HE lesions, compared with histopathological examination, the accuracy rate was 65.2% and 91.3% in US and CEUS findings, respectively. Among the 24 CE lesions, 13 lesions were correctly differentiated by US, and 23 by CEUS. The difference between US and CEUS was statistically significant (Chi-square test, [Formula: see text] = 8.10, df = 23, P < 0.005). Among the total 46 HE lesions, 30 lesions were correctly differentiated by US, and 42 by CEUS. The difference between US and CEUS was statistically significant (Chi-square test, [Formula: see text] = 10.08, df = 45, P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: CEUS is a more effective technique than US for differentiating the type of HE between CE and AE. It could be a reliable tool in the differentiation of HE.

REGγ promotes mantle cell lymphoma cell apoptosis by downregulating NF-κB signaling.

Background: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). REGγ is important for tumor occurrence and development, but understanding of the specific role of REGγ in MCL is lacking. We aimed to identify REGγ effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of MCL cells and clarify the underlying mechanisms. Methods: JEKO-1 cells stably transfected with a doxycycline-inducible Tet-On system expressed high levels of REGγ. JEKO-1 cells stably expressing shRNA-REGγ to reduce REGγ levels were constructed. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and p-NF-κB, NF-κB, IkB, REGγ, p-STAT3, STAT3, and PSMB5 levels in transfected cells and in transfected cells treated with Stattic, that is a nonpeptidic small molecule exhibited to selectively inhibit signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 through blocking the function of its SH2 domain, were analyzed using western blotting. Results: The proliferation of JEKO-1 cells was inhibited, and apoptosis was enhanced by increased expression of REGγ (P<0.01). REGγ inhibited MCL cell proliferation in a mouse tumor xenograft model by promoting apoptosis, increased the expression of the three IκB subunits and inhibited NF-κB signaling. Overexpressed REGγ inhibited STAT3 and downregulated PSMB5 expression in MCL cells. Stattic downregulated PSMB5 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) expressions and upregulated IκBε expression in JEKO-1 cells. Conclusions: We found that REGγ regulated p-STAT3 expression by accelerating its half-life and downregulated the NF-κB signaling pathway to promote MCL cell apoptosis by negatively regulating STAT3-mediated PSMB5 expression and subsequently upregulating IκB expression.