Cadonilimab plus platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab as first-line treatment for persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer (COMPASSION-16): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in China.

BACKGROUND: Cadonilimab is a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4, which has shown substantial clinical benefits in advanced cervical cancer. In the COMPASSION-16 trial, we aimed to evaluate the addition of cadonilimab to first-line standard chemotherapy in persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer. METHODS: In this randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial, women aged 18-75 years across 59 clinical sites in China with previously untreated persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive cadonilimab (10 mg/kg) or placebo plus platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab every 3 weeks for six cycles, followed by maintenance therapy every 3 weeks for up to 2 years. Randomisation was performed centrally through an interactive web-response system. Stratification factors were the use of bevacizumab (yes or no) and previous concurrent chemoradiotherapy (yes or no). The dual primary outcomes were progression-free survival as assessed by blinded independent central review and overall survival in the full analysis set. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04982237; the study has completed enrolment and is ongoing for treatment and follow-up. FINDINGS: 445 eligible women were enrolled between Sept 11, 2021, and June 23, 2022. Median progression-free survival was 12·7 months (95% CI 11·6-16·1) in the cadonilimab group and 8·1 months (7·7-9·6) in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·62 [95% CI 0·49-0·80], p<0·0001); median overall survival was not reached (27·0 months to not estimable) versus 22·8 months (17·6-29·0), respectively (hazard ratio 0·64 [0·48-0·86], p=0·0011). The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were decreased neutrophil count, decreased white blood cell count, and anaemia. INTERPRETATION: The addition of cadonilimab to first-line standard chemotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival and overall survival with a manageable safety profile in participants with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer. The data support the use of cadonilimab plus chemotherapy as an efficacious first-line therapy in persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer. FUNDING: Akeso Biopharma.

VOx Matrix Confinement Approach to Generate Sub-3 nm L10-Pt-Based Intermetallic Catalysts for Fuel Cell Cathode.

Pt-based intermetallic compounds (IMCs) are considered as a class of promising fuel cell electrocatalysts, owing to their outstanding intrinsic activity and durability. However, the synthesis of uniformly dispersed IMCs with small sizes presents a formidable challenge during the essential high-temperature annealing process. Herein, a facile and generally applicable VOx matrix confinement strategy is demonstrated for the controllable synthesis of ordered L10-PtM (M = Fe, Co, and Mn) nanoparticles, which not only enhances the dispersion of intermetallic nanocrystals, even at high loading (40 wt%), but also simplifies the oxide removal and acid-washing procedures. Taking intermetallic PtCo as an example, the as-prepared catalyst displays a high-performance oxygen reduction activity (mass activity of 1.52 A mgPt -1) and excellent stability in the membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) (the ECSA has just 7% decay after durability test). This strategy provides an economical and scalable route for the controlled synthesis of Pt-based intermetallic catalysts, which can pave a way for the commercialization of fuel cell technologies.

SQLE-a promising prognostic biomarker in cervical cancer: implications for tumor malignant behavior, cholesterol synthesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and immune infiltration.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer, encompassing squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), presents a considerable risk to the well-being of women. Recent studies have reported that squalene epoxidase (SQLE) is overexpressed in several cancers, which contributes to cancer development. METHODS: RNA sequencing data for SQLE were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. In vitro experiments, including colorimetry, colony formation, Transwell, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting were performed. Furthermore, a transplanted CESC nude mouse model was constructed to validate the tumorigenic activity of SQLE in vivo. Associations among the SQLE expression profiles, differentially expressed genes (DEGs), immune infiltration, and chemosensitivity were examined. The prognostic value of genetic changes and DNA methylation in SQLE were also assessed. RESULTS: SQLE mRNA expression was significantly increased in CESC. ROC analysis revealed the strong diagnostic ability of SQLE toward CESC. Patients with high SQLE expression experienced shorter overall survival. The promotional effects of SQLE on cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, cholesterol synthesis, and EMT were emphasized. DEGs functional enrichment analysis revealed the signaling pathways and biological processes. Notably, a connection existed between the SQLE expression and the presence of immune cells as well as the activation of immune checkpoints. Increased SQLE expressions exhibited increased chemotherapeutic responses. SQLE methylation status was significantly associated with CESC prognosis. CONCLUSION: SQLE significantly affects CESC prognosis, malignant behavior, cholesterol synthesis, EMT, and immune infiltration; thereby offering diagnostic and indicator roles in CESC. Thus, SQLE can be a novel therapeutic target in CESC treatment.

Clinical characteristics and radiation therapy modality of younger patients with early-stage endometrial cancer, a multicenter study in China's real world.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer is a prevalent gynecologic malignancy found in postmenopausal women. However, in the last two decades, the incidence of early-stage has doubled in women under 40 years old. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics and adjuvant therapeutic modalities of both young and not -young patients with early-stage endometrial cancer in China's real world. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed patients with early-stage endometrial cancer at 13 medical institutions in China from 1999 to 2015. The patients were divided into two groups: young (≤ 45 years old) and non-young (> 45 years old). Statistical comparisons were conducted between the two groups for clinical characteristics, pathological features, and survival. The study also identified factors that affect local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) using Cox proportional risk regression analysis. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to compare the effects of local control between vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) alone and pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) ± VBT. RESULTS: The study involved 1,280 patients, 150 of whom were 45 years old or younger. The young group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of stage II, low-risk, lower uterine segment infiltration (LUSI), and cervical invasion compared to the non-young group. Additionally, the young patients had significantly larger maximum tumor diameters. The young group also had a significantly higher five-year overall survival (OS) and a five-year LRFS. Age is an independent risk factor for LRFS. There was no significant difference in LRFS between young patients with intermediate- to high-risk early-stage endometrial cancer who received EBRT ± VBT and those who received VBT alone. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, young patients had better characteristics than the non-young group, while they exhibited higher levels of aggressiveness in certain aspects. The LRFS and OS outcomes were better in young patients. Age is an independent risk factor for LRFS. Additionally, VBT alone may be a suitable option for patients under 45 years of age with intermediate- to high-risk early-stage endometrial cancer, as it reduces the risk of toxic reactions and future second cancers while maintaining similar local control as EBRT.

Calcium polypeptide mitigates Cd toxicity in rice via reducing oxidative stress and regulating pectin modification.

KEY MESSAGE: Calcium polypeptide plays a key role during cadmium stress responses in rice, which is involved in increasing peroxidase activity, modulating pectin methylesterase activity, and regulating cell wall by reducing malondialdehyde content. Cadmium (Cd) contamination threatens agriculture and human health globally, emphasizing the need for sustainable methods to reduce cadmium toxicity in crops. Calcium polypeptide (CaP) is a highly water-soluble small molecular peptide acknowledged for its potential as an organic fertilizer in promoting plant growth. However, it is still unknown whether CaP has effects on mitigating Cd toxicity. Here, we investigated the effect of CaP application on the ability to tolerate toxic Cd in rice. We evaluated the impact of CaP on rice seedlings under varying Cd stress conditions and investigated the effect mechanism of CaP mitigating Cd toxicity by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), fluorescent probe dye, immunofluorescent labeling, and biochemical analysis. We found a notable alleviation of Cd toxicity by reduced malondialdehyde content and increased peroxidase activity. In addition, our findings reveal that CaP induces structural alterations in the root cell wall by modulating pectin methylesterase activity. Altogether, our results confirm that CaP not only promoted biomass accumulation but also reduced Cd concentration in rice. This study contributes valuable insights to sustainable strategies for addressing Cd contamination in agricultural ecosystems.

Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal the mechanism of polystyrene nanoplastics toxicity to mice.

Microplastic (MP) are an emerging environmental pollutant, which has toxic effects on organisms, and it has received extensive attention currently. Studying the transcriptomic and metabolic responses of mice to nanoplastic-contaminated water is critical for understanding molecular-level toxicity of nanoplastics (NPs), but there are few studies on this topic. To analyze the effects of different concentrations of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastic-contaminated water on mice at the transcriptome and metabolism of spleens to study the molecular toxicity. Here, testing of histopathology of spleen of female mice was performed after drinking water containing 0.1 µm PS-NPs (1 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL) at different concentrations for 49 days, respectively. The spleen tissue samples were subjected to metabolome and transcriptome sequencing. Four differentially expressed genes were randomly chosen for qRT-PCR to confirm the correctness of transcriptome sequencing. Common Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that a large number of differential genes and differential metabolites mainly focused on immune, inflammation, neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular disease, nervous, etc. in the organism systems module; lipid, amino acid, taurine and hypotaurine metabolisms, etc. in the metabolism module; signaling translation, signaling molecules and interaction, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, etc. in the environmental information processing. The results showed that pathway analysis at transcriptome and metabolome levels confirmed that the immune system of mice was affected after drinking water contaminated with polystyrene nanoplastics.

Long-term follow-up after the treatment of impacted canines in the maxilla causing severe root resorption of the lateral incisors: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Root resorption of adjacent teeth due to impacted canines is common, and orthodontic treatment often leads to secondary resorption or even loss of adjacent roots. Clinical reports of long-term stability after treatment are rare. CASE PRESENTATION: This study reports two cases of maxillary impacted canines resulting in severe root resorption of the adjacent lateral incisors. Surgical exposure, orthodontic retraction, and alignment of the impacted canines were successful in both cases, and the resorbed lateral incisors were stable with no significant loosening and normal pulp vitality after treatment and at the 5- and 10-year follow-up appointments. CONCLUSIONS: Light orthodontic force may be used to move adjacent teeth with root resorption due to tooth obstruction. The path and direction in which the teeth are moved must be specifically designed so that the adjacent roots are not resorbed and so long-term stability can be achieved.

Effect of force direction and impaction angulation during dilaceration impacted central incisor traction: a finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effects of traction forces at different angles on impacted central incisors(ICI)with varying inverted angles (IA) may be different. The objective of this study was to analyze the biomechanical effects of different force directions (FD) on developmentally inverted ICI with multi-angle variations and to offer insights and guidance for the treatment of inverted ICI. METHODS: Three-dimensional finite element method was employed to simulate clinical scenarios of inverted ICI traction. As such, 0.2 N of force (direction: antero-superior angles of 90°, 100°, 110°, 120°, and 130° relative to the long axis of the inverted ICI crown) was applied to the inverted ICI with inverse angles (IA) of 40°, 30°, 20°, 10° and 0°. Inverted ICI apical displacement and Von Mises stress on periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone were compared. RESULTS: IA and FD showed minimal influence on the stress distribution in the PDL, as higher stresses were concentrated in the apical region. The higher stresses in the alveolar bone are focused on the cervical and apical regions of the tooth. In particular, IA exerts a more significant impact on stress distribution in the alveolar bone than FD. The influence of IA on the apical displacement of inverted ICI is larger than that of FD. CONCLUSIONS: To promote the health of the root and periodontal tissues, it is recommended to use an angle of 100°-110° relative to the long axis of the ICI crown when dealing with a large IA (> 20°) developmentally inverted ICI. Conversely, an angle of 110°-120° can be used.

Mapping temperate old-growth forests in Central Europe using ALS and Sentinel-2A multispectral data.

Old-growth forests are essential to preserve biodiversity and play an important role in sequestering carbon and mitigating climate change. However, their existence across Europe is vulnerable due to the scarcity of their distribution, logging, and environmental threats. Therefore, providing the current status of old-growth forests across Europe is essential to aiding informed conservation efforts and sustainable forest management. Remote sensing techniques have proven effective for mapping and monitoring forests over large areas. However, relying solely on remote sensing spectral or structural information cannot capture comprehensive horizontal and vertical structure complexity profiles associated with old-growth forest characteristics. To overcome this issue, we combined spectral information from Sentinel-2A multispectral imagery with 3D structural information from high-density point clouds of airborne laser scanning (ALS) imagery to map old-growth forests over an extended area. Four features from the ALS data and fifteen from Sentinel-2A comprising raw band (spectral reflectance), vegetation indices (VIs), and texture were selected to create three datasets used in the classification process using the random forest algorithm. The results demonstrated that combining ALS and Sentinel-2A features improved the classification performance and yielded the highest accuracy for old-growth class, with an F1-score of 92% and producer's and user's accuracies of 93% and 90%, respectively. The findings suggest that features from ALS and Sentinel-2A data sensitive to forest structure are essential for identifying old-growth forests. Integrating open-access satellite imageries, such as Sentinel-2A and ALS data, can benefit forest managers, stakeholders, and conservationists in monitoring old-growth forest preservation across a broader spatial extent.

Toward 3D imaging of femtosecond laser filament in air by a CCD within a single exposure.

We experimentally demonstrated the 3D propagation of laser filament in air by an Fabry-Pérot (F-P) cavity assisted imaging within a single exposure. The F-P cavity was composed of two parallel mirrors with certain reflectivity and transmission at filament laser, so that the beam was reflected and refracted multiple times between the two mirrors. The cross-sectional intensity patterns at different longitudinal positions along filament within a single exposure of CCD (Charge-coupled Device) were recorded. When keeping the incident angle of the F-P cavity as a constant and reducing its spacing distance, a better longitudinally resolved evolution of cross-sectional filament intensity patterns was obtained. The intensity evolution along laser filament by the F-P cavity assisted imaging method was consistent with the filament fluorescence measurement from the side. As an application, the transition of laser propagation from linear to nonlinear was unveiled by the F-P cavity assisted 3D imaging.

Strong coupling of second harmonic generation scattering spectrum in a diexcitionic nanosystem.

Diexcitonic strong coupling between quantum emitters and localized surface plasmon has attracted more attention recently because it can provide multiple qubit states for future quantum information technology at room temperature. In a strong coupling regime, nonlinear optical effects can offer new routes for developing quantum devices, but it is rarely reported. In this paper, we established the hybrid system consisting of J-aggregates-WS2-cuboid Au@Ag nanorods, which can realize diexcitonic strong coupling and second harmonic generation (SHG). We find that multimode strong coupling has been achieved not only in the fundamental frequency scattering spectrum but also in the SHG scattering spectrum. SHG scattering spectrum shows three plexciton branches, similar to the splitting in the fundamental frequency scattering spectrum. Furthermore, the SHG scattering spectrum can be modulated by tuning the armchair direction of the crystal lattice, pump polarization direction, and plasmon resonance frequency, which makes our system very promising in the quantum device at room temperature. Moreover, we develop coupled nonlinear harmonic oscillator model theory to explain the nonlinear diexcitonic strong coupling mechanism. The calculated results by the finite element method accord well with our theory. The nonlinear optical properties of the diexcitonic strong coupling can provide potential applications such as quantum manipulation, entanglement, and integrated logic devices.

LiDAR reveals a preference for intermediate visibility by a forest-dwelling ungulate species.

Visibility (viewshed) plays a significant and diverse role in animals' behaviour and fitness. Understanding how visibility influences animal behaviour requires the measurement of habitat visibility at spatial scales commensurate to individual animal choices. However, measuring habitat visibility at a fine spatial scale over a landscape is a challenge, particularly in highly heterogeneous landscapes (e.g. forests). As a result, our ability to model the influence of fine-scale visibility on animal behaviour has been impeded or limited. In this study, we demonstrate the application of the concept of three-dimensional (3D) cumulative viewshed in the study of animal spatial behaviour at a landscape level. Specifically, we employed a newly described approach that combines terrestrial and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to measure fine-scale habitat visibility (3D cumulative viewshed) on a continuous scale in forested landscapes. We applied the LiDAR-derived visibility to investigate how visibility in forests affects the summer habitat selection and the movement of 20 GPS-collared female red deer Cervus elaphus in a temperate forest in Germany. We used integrated step selection analysis to determine whether red deer show any preference for fine-scale habitat visibility and whether visibility is related to the rate of movement of red deer. We found that red deer selected intermediate habitat visibility. Their preferred level of visibility during the day was substantially lower than that of night and twilight, whereas the preference was not significantly different between night and twilight. In addition, red deer moved faster in high-visibility areas, possibly mainly to avoid predation and anthropogenic risk. Furthermore, red deer moved most rapidly between locations in the twilight. For the first time, the preference for intermediate habitat visibility and the adaption of movement rate to fine-scale visibility by a forest-dwelling ungulate species at a landscape scale was revealed. The LiDAR technique used in this study offers fine-scale habitat visibility at the landscape level in forest ecosystems, which would be of broader interest in the fields of animal ecology and behaviour.

Tough and Thermostable Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)/Vitrimer Blend with Enhanced Interfacial Compatibility.

Polymer blending is an efficient way to obtain extraordinary polymeric materials. However, once permanently cross-linked thermosets are involved in blending, there are challenges in designing and optimizing the structures and interfacial compatibility of blends. Vitrimer with dynamic covalent polymer networks provides an innovative opportunity for blending thermoplastics and thermosets. Herein, a reactive blending strategy is proposed to develop thermoplastic-thermoset blend with enhanced compatibility on the basis of dynamic covalent chemistry. Specifically, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polymerized epoxy vitrimer can be directly melt blended to obtain tough and thermostable blends with desirable microstructures and interfacial interaction. Bond exchange facilitates the grafting of PBT and epoxy vitrimer chains, thus enhancing the interfacial compatibility and thermal stability of blends. The obtained blend balances the strength and stretchability of PBT and epoxy vitrimer, resulting in enhanced toughness. This work offers a new way of designing and fabricating new polymeric materials by blending thermoplastics and thermosets. It also suggests a facile direction towards upcycling thermoplastics and thermosets.

Practice patterns of adjuvant radiotherapy in women with stage I to II endometrial carcinoma: a real-world multi-institutional analysis in China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to report clinical practice patterns of postoperative radiotherapy for stage I to II endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients treated in 13 Chinese medical centers. METHODS: We included early stage EC patients treated by hysterectomy and adjuvant RT between 2003 and 2017 from 13 institutions. Patients were classified into 4 risk groups based on ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO recommendations (2014). RESULTS: A total of 1,227 cases were analyzed. Along the 15 years of the study, an increasing tendency was found towards administration for vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) alone, while the proportion of external beam pelvic radiotherapy (EBRT) alone remained stable in the corresponding period. When radiation modalities were stratified by risk groups, proportion of VBT alone significantly increased in all risk groups. The higher the risk, the later VBT became the main adjuvant treatment modality. However, EBRT alone or with VBT remained the main adjuvant method for high-risk patients. There were 13 dose-fractionation schemes for VBT alone with the scheme of 30 Gy in 6 fractions prescribed at 0.5cm under the vaginal mucosa accounting for most. There were 17 schemes for VBT boost and the most common schedule was 10 Gy in 2 fractions. The upper 3-5cm part of vagina was the most frequent target. 89.6% of the practitioners performed two-dimensional VBT technique. The median dose for EBRT was 50 Gy. From 2003 to 2017, conventional radiotherapy was gradually replaced by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy modality and intensity modulated radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: We report a significant shift from EBRT to VBT alone for high-intermediate-risk, intermediate-risk and low-risk EC patients from 2003 to 2017 while EBRT remained the main radiation modality for high-risk early stage patients. There has been remarkable heterogeneity among VBT dose fractionation schedules across China. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial ID was ChiCTR-PRC-17010712. It was authorized by the Institutional Review Board of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (N0. S-K139).

Habitat visibility affects the behavioral response of a large herbivore to human disturbance in forest landscapes.

Wildlife can perceive humans as predators and human disturbance, whether lethal (e.g., hunting) or non-lethal (e.g., hiking, biking, and skiing), triggers antipredator behavior among prey. Visibility is the property that relates habitat structure to accessibility of visual information that allows animals to detect predators and evaluate predation risk. Thus, the visibility of a habitat (hereafter referred to as habitat visibility) for prey species alters the perceived risk of predation and therefore has a strong influence on their antipredator behavior. Yet, knowledge of how habitat visibility affects the response of animals to different types of human disturbance is limited, partly, because it is challenging to measure habitat visibility for animals at a fine spatial scale over a landscape, particularly in highly heterogeneous landscapes (e.g., forests). In this study, we employed a newly described approach that combines terrestrial and airborne LiDAR to contiguously measure fine-scale habitat visibility in a forested landscape. We applied the LiDAR-derived habitat visibility to examine how habitat visibility in forests affects the summer space use of 20 GPS-collared female red deer (Cervus elaphus) modeled with integrated step-selection functions in the Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany when exposed to various types of human disturbance including recreational activities, forest roads, hiking trails, and hunting. We found that red deer in our study area avoided areas with higher all types of human disturbance, especially during daylight hours. Furthermore, habitat visibility significantly modified the use of space by red deer in response to human recreational activities, forest roads, and hiking trails, but not to the hunting area. Red deer tended to tolerate a higher intensity of human recreational activities and to use areas closer to forest roads or hiking trails when they have lower habitat visibility (i.e., more cover). Our findings highlight the importance of considering visual perception when studying the response of wild animals to human disturbance. We emphasize the potential to mitigate negative consequences of human disturbance on wildlife, through measures such as maintaining vegetative buffers around recreational infrastructure (e.g., roads and skiing tracks) in order to reduce habitat visibility around areas frequented by humans.

Combined orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment in an adolescent patient with traumatically ankylosed incisors: A case report.

Symmetric extraction of premolars is a frequently used orthodontic treatment for dental crowding and protrusion. However, when a patient has incisors with ankylosis, the establishment of a treatment protocol often plagues orthodontists. An adolescent patient with a history of incisor trauma sought treatment for dental protrusion and crowding. Upon percussion of his infrapositioned maxillary central incisors, characteristic dull metallic sounds were noted, and a lack of normal mobility of these teeth under the application of external forces was detected. Follow-up radiographs after the trauma showed replacement root resorption of the maxillary central incisors. Based on clinical and radiological findings, ankylosis of the maxillary central incisors was tentatively diagnosed. A combination of orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment options involving extraction of the maxillary central incisors and mandibular first premolars was chosen to resolve the functional and esthetic problems. After treatment, well-aligned dentition, improved smile esthetics, and a more harmonious facial profile were achieved, and these outcomes remained stable during the follow-up period. This case report illustrates a viable treatment strategy for tackling predicaments caused by ankylosed incisors, which is unusual in the literature.

Recent Advances in Cancer Therapeutic Copper-Based Nanomaterials for Antitumor Therapy.

Copper serves as a vital microelement which is widely present in the biosystem, functioning as multi-enzyme active site, including oxidative stress, lipid oxidation and energy metabolism, where oxidation and reduction characteristics are both beneficial and lethal to cells. Since tumor tissue has a higher demand for copper and is more susceptible to copper homeostasis, copper may modulate cancer cell survival through reactive oxygen species (ROS) excessive accumulation, proteasome inhibition and anti-angiogenesis. Therefore, intracellular copper has attracted great interest that multifunctional copper-based nanomaterials can be exploited in cancer diagnostics and antitumor therapy. Therefore, this review explains the potential mechanisms of copper-associated cell death and investigates the effectiveness of multifunctional copper-based biomaterials in the field of antitumor therapy.

Autothermal Reforming of Volatile Organic Compounds to Hydrogen-Rich Gas.

Industrial emissions of volatile organic compounds are urgently addressed for their toxicity and carcinogenicity to humans. Developing efficient and eco-friendly reforming technology of volatile organic compounds is important but still a great challenge. A promising strategy is to generate hydrogen-rich gas for solid oxide fuel cells by autothermal reforming of VOCs. In this study, we found a more desirable commercial catalyst (NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3) for the autothermal reforming of VOCs. The performance of autothermal reforming of toluene as a model compound over a NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3 catalyst fitted well with the simulation results at the optimum operating conditions calculated based on a simulation using Aspen PlusV11.0 software. Furthermore, the axial temperature distribution of the catalyst bed was monitored during the reaction, which demonstrated that the reaction system was self-sustaining. Eventually, actual volatile organic compounds from the chemical factory (C9, C10, toluene, paraxylene, diesel, benzene, kerosene, raffinate oil) were completely reformed over NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3. Reducing emissions of VOCs and generating hydrogen-rich gas as a fuel from the autothermal reforming of VOCs is a promising strategy.

The action of topical application of Vitamin B12 ointment on radiodermatitis in a porcine model.

Radiodermatitis is an inevitable side effect of radiotherapy in cancer treatment and there is currently no consensus on effective drugs for treating the condition. Vitamin B12 is known to be effective for repairing and regenerating damaged skin. However, there are few studies on the use of Vitamin B12 for treating radiodermatitis. This study explored the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action of Vitamin B12 ointment on radiodermatitis. A porcine model of grade IV radiodermatitis was established. The ointment was applied for 12 weeks after which histological staining, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, western blotting, and gene sequencing were performed for the evaluation of specific indicators in skin samples. After 12 weeks of observation, the Vitamin B12 treatment was found to have significantly alleviated radiodermatitis. The treatment also significantly reduced the expression levels of NF-κB, COX-2, IL-6, and TGF-ß in the skin samples. The pathways involved in the effects of the treatment were identified by analysing gene expression. In conclusion, Vitamin B12 ointment was found to be highly effective for treating radiodermatitis, with strong anti-radiation, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrosis effects. It is thus a promising drug candidate for the treatment of severe radiodermatitis.

Overview of adjuvant radiotherapy on survival, failure pattern and toxicity in stage I to II endometrial carcinoma: a long-term multi-institutional analysis in China.

BACKGROUND: This research aimed to provide an overview of the impact of adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) and external beam pelvic radiotherapy (EBRT) with or without VBT on survival in stage I to II EC patients in China from a long-term multi-institutional analysis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed stage I to II EC patients from 13 institutions treated between 2003 and 2015. All patients underwent surgical staging and received adjuvant RT. Patients were divided into groups of low-risk (LR), intermediate-risk (IR), high-intermediate-risk (HIR) and high-risk (HR). Survival statistics, failure pattern, and toxicity of different radiation modalities in different risk groups were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1048 patients were included. HR disease represented 27.6%, HIR 17.7%, IR 27.7% and LR 27.1%, respectively. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EAC) and non-endometrioid carcinoma (NEC) accounted for 92.8 and 7.2%. A total of 474 patients received VBT alone and 574 patients received EBRT with or without VBT. As for EAC patients, the 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate was: 94.6, 90.4, 93.0 and 91.6%, respectively. For LR patients, EBRT (with or without VBT) seemed to be a risk factor. With the higher risk category, the survival benefit of EBRT gradually became remarkable. EBRT (with or without VBT) significantly increased DFS, LRFS and DMFS compared to VBT alone in the HR group (p < 0.05). Distant metastasis was the main failure pattern for all risk groups. As for NEC patients, the 5-year OS, DFS, LRFS and DMFS rate was: 93.4, 87.2, 91.7 and 89.3%, respectively. As for toxicity, EBRT (with or without VBT) significantly increased the incidence of grade 1-2 gastrointestinal, urinary, and hematological toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: For stage I to II EC patients, EAC accounted for the majority and had better prognosis than NEC. For EAC patients, VBT alone resulted in comparable survival to EBRT in the LR, IR and HIR groups, while EBRT significantly increased survival in the HR group. EBRT had higher rate of toxicity than VBT.